BROADCASTER GMA Network, Inc. is seeking a permit to put up a television station in Butuan City, documents from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) showed.
The broadcaster on April 23 applied for a certificate of public convenience to install, operate and maintain a five-kilowatt ultra high frequency TV station in the Agusan Del Norte city.
“It is respectfully prayed unto this honorable commission that the foregoing exhibits be admitted in evidence and that the corresponding order be issued as may be proper under the circumstances,” GMA Network said in an NTC filing.
Already, the company has an affiliate station in Butuan City. However, affiliate stations are not owned by the company, they are usually owned by local Filipino businessmen who rebroadcast the broadcaster’s originating signal during specific time block for negotiated fixed fees, according to GMA Network.
The company, as of 2011, operates a total of 74 TV stations throughout the country, 35 of which are in Luzon, 18 are in Visayas and the rest are in Mindanao, according to the network’s annual report.
GMA Network ended the previous year with P1.715 billion net income after tax, down by 39.01% from P2.812 billion recorded in 2010 due to the absence of political advertisements seen in the 2010 election year.
The company is looking to spend P650 million this year, largely for two regional stations in Ilocos and Bicol.
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