ABS-CBN keeps ratings lead in March

ABS-CBN, the country's largest media and entertainment company, said Wednesday it topped television ratings in March, once again beating rival GMA Network, based on Kantar Media research.

The Lopez-led network had an average audience share of 47 percent in March, 17 points higher than GMA, according to Kantar's poll of 2,610 urban and rural homes that represent 100 percent of the country's total TV viewing population.

ABS-CBN secured larger audiences in the urban and rural areas compared to GMA, keeping an average audience share of 44 percent versus GMA’s 24 percent in Metro Manila; and 38 percent in Mega Manila compared to GMA’s 30 percent.

In Total Luzon, ABS-CBN was the choice of more viewers with 41 percent over GMA’s 33 percent. It dominated Total Visayas, with 57 percent, sustaining a margin more than twice GMA’s share of 23 percent; as well as in Total Mindanao, where it got 56 percent of audiences versus GMA’s 25 percent.

ABS-CBN won primetime, earning 50 percent audience share, versus GMA’s 30 percent. It also led the morning block (6 a.m. to 12 p.m.) with an average audience share of 38 percent, compared to GMA’s 28 percent; the noontime block (12 p.m. to 3 p.m.) with 48 percent, versus GMA’s 29 percent; and the afternoon block (3 p.m. to 6 p.m. with 49 percent, versus GMA’s 30 percent.

Since January, ABS-CBN took 9 of the 10 highest rated TV programs. In March, "FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano" continued to be the country’s number one show, ruling primetime with 42.4 percent.

Following its lead are "The General’s Daughter," with 32.3 percent; "World of Dance Philippines" with 31.5 percent; TV Patrol, with 30.9 percent; "Maalaala Mo Kaya," with 28.7 percent; "Halik," with 24.5 percent; "Pinoy Big Brother: Otso" with 23.8 percent, "Tonight with Boy Abunda" with 22.9 percent, "Bandila" with 22.4 percent, "Rated K," with 22.2 percent; “Gandang Gabi Vice” with 19.8 percent; the just-concluded drama series “Playhouse” with 19.2 percent; new late-morning series “Nang Ngumiti ang Langit” with 18.4 percent; “Kadenang Ginto” with 17.6 percent; “Los Bastardos” with 18.8 percent; “Minute to Win It: Last Man Standing” with 18.2 percent; "Wansapanataym," with 21.9 percent; and "Home Sweetie Home," with 21.6 percent.

As of February, ABS-CBN TVplus sold 7 million boxes since its launch in 2015. It recently added 5 new channels to its current line-up, namely the Asianovela Channel, Movie Central, MYX, Jeepney TV, and O Shopping in Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, and Metro Cebu.

ABS-CBN also leads all media networks in bringing its content online to address the change in the Filipinos' viewing habits. It launched its new streaming service, iWant, which became the most in-demand app for Filipino iOS and Android with more than 1 million app downloads on the first day of its official release in November last year.

News.abs-cbn.com is the official news website of ABS-CBN Corp.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/04/03/19/abs-cbn-keeps-ratings-lead-in-march

Cebu Pacific launches flight to Marinduque

Cebu Pacific said it launched a direct flight to its newest domestic destination, Marinduque province.

The airline is the only one operating flights in and out of the Marinduque Airport through subsidiary Cebgo.

“Being the only carrier flying to and from Marinduque, we are very happy to enable the opening of more resorts, other businesses and other opportunities―prospering growth of the province. Now, more tourists will be able to fly direct to Marinduque to see and experience the island for themselves,” said Cebu Pacific vice president for corporate affairs JR Mantaring.

“At the same time, it will also be easier for residents to fly to Manila and travel to any onward destination, be it domestic or international, through CEB’s seamlessly connected network,” Mantaring said.

Marinduque is the 37th domestic destination of Cebu Pacific. Aside from Marinduque, CEB also operates flights to other up-and-coming tourist destinations such as Tablas, Masbate, Siargao and Camiguin.

Along with subsidiary Cebgo, Cebu Pacific flies to 37 domestic and 26 international destinations with more than 107 routes spanning Asia, Australia, the Middle East and the United States.

The Cebu Pacific fleet is comprised of an Airbus A321neo, 36 Airbus A320, seven  Airbus A321ceo, eight Airbus A330, eight ATR 72-500 and 12 ATR 72-600 aircraft.

The ATR aircraft are used by Cebgo for inter-island flights where jet operations are not possible.

Cebu Pacific boasts of one of the youngest fleets in the world, with an average fleet age of five years.

Cebu Pacific’s net income fell 51 percent last year amid a challenging macroeconomic environment.

The airline company controlled by industrialist John Gokongwei posted a profit of P3.9 billion in 2018, down from P7.9 billion in 2017.

The airline’s revenue reached P74.1 billion, up 9 percent from the previous year, on the back of continued demand for air travel and robust growth of its cargo business.

The growth in CEB’s 2018 business came amid a challenging environment with high fuel prices, a volatile Philippine peso, rising interest rates, increased competition, the six-month closure of Boracay and operational limitations in the country’s key airports.

CEB flew 20.3 million passengers in 2018, up 2.7 percent from 2017.

http://manilastandard.net/mobile/article/291606

Shakey’s acquiring Peri-Peri stores

Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures Inc., one of the country’s leading restaurant operators owned by the Po family, is acquiring Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, an emerging fast casual and full-service restaurant brand in the Philippines.

Shakey’s said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it signed an agreement to purchase the assets and intellectual property relating to the Peri business, including its brand, trade name and the various proprietary recipes used by the chain to make its trademark peri-peri chicken.

The company did not disclose the acquisition cost.

The deal is expected to close by mid-year upon fulfillment of certain conditions.

The acquisition will also involve owning and operating all company-owned stores and serving as brand-owner and franchisor of stores being operated by franchisees.

“We look forward to growing this business through our tried and tested formula of investing in the brand, investing in the people and investing in the stores. We will maintain the taste and look that made Peri famous, but hope to further elevate the customer experience with Shakey’s trademark ‘wow-ing’ service and improve the stores’ accessibility via proper site selection and expansion of the network,” Shakey’s president and chief executive Vicente Gregorio said.

Peri has a store network of 23 units in several parts of Metro Manila, about 60 percent of which are franchised and 40 percent company-owned.

“We are excited by the potential of Peri to scale. We expect it to be an important future growth driver for our fast-casual chain restaurant business. Our deep insights into how to best serve the typical fast-casual restaurant guest should allow us to further grow the Peri brand. This is in addition to leveraging our team’s execution capabilities, which remain best-in-class and our restaurant operating systems, which have also continued to improve over the last few years,” said Shakey’s chairman Christopher Po.

Shakey’s had a nationwide store count of 228 as of end-2018. It expects to open 20 stores this year. Shakey’s also has three outlets abroad.

Shakey’s said with two international area development agreements signed up, its total international pipeline would be at least 20 outlets over the next few years.

Shakey’s owns the perpetual rights to the Shakey’s brand for the Middle East, Asia (excluding Japan and Malaysia), China, Australia and Oceania.

“This Peri acquisition is another vote of confidence in the growing middle class in the Philippines. We will continue to invest in the restaurant space and diversify the business portfolio in the hope of achieving our vision of establishing wow brands―a handful of industry leading, full-service restaurant chains appealing to the Filipinos’ increasing need for affordable yet premium dining out options,” Po said.

http://manilastandard.net/mobile/article/291607

SM subsidiary opens Park Inn by Radisson Hotel in Iloilo

Iloilo City―SM Hotels and Convention Corp., the hotel unit of the SM Group, opened its third Park Inn by Radisson Hotel in this city Tuesday amid the booming demand of the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) market.

SMHCC executive vice president Peggy Angeles said at least four more Park Inn hotels are in the pipeline as part of the group’s P8.2-billion, five-year expansion plan until 2022.

“We are confident that this new landmark in Iloilo will add to the city’s vibrant tourism landscape and set a new benchmark in hospitality in Panay Island,” Angeles said.

There is also a plan to construct an SMX Convention Center near the hotel which is strategically located six minutes from the Iloilo Business Park and less than half an hour from the Iloilo International Airport.

“All these will strengthen the position of Iloilo as a MICE destination,” she said.

The Department of Tourism earlier launched its MICE Roadmap 2030 to secure the country’s foothold as the leading MICE destination in Asia Pacific.

Under the roadmap, the industry is eyeing a revenue growth of more than 400 percent from only P4.6 billion posted in 2016 to P24.4 billion by 2030.

The 199-room hotel Iloilo, Angeles said, provides choice venues for meetings and social events, with a main function room that can accommodate up to 100 guests for mid-sized events and an al fresco area by the poolside for early evening functions.

“Park Inn by Radisson is a friendly, fresh, vibrant and uncomplicated brand that focuses on delivering the modern essentials of a great business hotel experience,” she said.

SMHCC earlier opened Park Inn by Radisson hotels in Davao and Clark, but the branch in Iloilo is the first under the corporation’s licensing agreement with Radisson Hotel Group.

Angeles said another Park Inn by Radisson hotel would be opened within the first half of the year beside SM North Edsa while the extension of the Clark facility would be completed by the first quarter of next year.

Park Inn Bacolod is scheduled for opening in the third quarter of 2020, while another in Baguio will likely be finished by 2022.

Angeles said that aside from the Radisson brand, SMHCC would also bring another international brand to the country.  It is set to break ground for a 400-room hotel with serviced apartments near the SM Mall of Asia in June.

The group is also set to construct a hotel and an SMX Convention Center in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

SMHCC earlier announced the expansion of its portfolio, doubling its current hotel room inventory and growing leasable convention space by 2020.

http://manilastandard.net/mobile/article/291605