Globe eyeing deal with ABS-CBN?

MANILA, Philippines – Is media group ABS-CBN Corp. among the potential content partners the Ayala-led Globe Telecom Inc. is eyeing to offer to its mobile customers?

“All content owners are,” Globe president Ernest Cu replied in a text message to reporters when asked if the Lopez-led media group is among the investments the mobile firm is considering for future plans to offer “new age content” to subscribers.

When asked if Globe is exploring a deal similar to that being negotiated between rival Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and ABS-CBN’s rival, GMA Network Inc., Cu said, “absolutely.”

Cu said in a corporate event on August 23 that there are no definite moves yet to pursue opportunities outside its traditional areas of growth in the mobile industry, but they are currently mulling a partnership agreement.

“We continue to explore but [there is] nothing concrete [now]. We are open to it. Just like any other telco entity, we need to cover and make sure we have content relevant to the public.”

Cu said they are considering media content — whether news or entertainment — that could be accessed using mobile phones or tablets instead of bigger screens, like TV.

“What is attractive for us would be what the consuming public will use and they use mobile phones to browse a 5-minute clip rather than watch a one-hour show using a handset.”

He referred to this behavior as “mobile surf snacking.”

“We are into mobile kind of geared content. We are interested in that sort of thing. The new age content maybe relevant versus the traditional Filipino content you see out there today. That’s not our business. We are not here for the big screen,” explained Cu. – Rappler.com