Globe open to new strategic partners, including GMA-7

MANILA, Philippines – Partnerships are central to Globe’s strategy as the company moves forward in an age where internet is changing media and telecommunications as we know them.

Cu is already in talks with the country’s biggest media group ABS-CBN.

There are no talks yet with the second biggest – GMA 7 – but Globe isn’t ruling them out.

We are always open to everyone speaking with us… There is no exclusivity right?
ERNEST CU
GLOBE CEO

Partnering with a major network will help Globe in its convergence strategy to marry TV content with the vast distribution network of a telco.

Rival telco PLDT chair Manuel Pangilinan once joked that Globe is copying their convergence strategy after buying the third biggest network, TV5.

When you say it’s a copycat strategy it’s kind of interesting because every telco in the world is trying to do it. And the United States was actually the very first one to start doing it.
ERNEST CU
GLOBE CEO

PLDT acquired another rival telco in 2011 and now has twice as many mobile subscribers as Globe and nearly twice as many broadband consumers.

Cu says Globe is comfortable with being number 2 and is realistic about how much it costs to increase market share.

Yeah (we are comfortable there). At some point you have to ask yourself what it is going to cost you to go to 50%. There is always a cost. But all I can say is, we will try to drive our business as hard as we can with post paid leading the way. Mobile is disruptive. We’re dealing with it by accepting it.
ERNEST CU
GLOBE CEO

Katherine Visconti, Rappler Manila. – Rappler.com