PLDT eyes pay TV venture with US’ Echostar
Apr. 21, 2005

PHILIPPINE Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) said it was exploring the possibility of providing a direct-to-home satellite pay television service in the Philippines through a joint venture with Echostar Communications Inc.

US-based Echostar is a major client of Parlance System Inc., a unit of PLDT subsidiary ePLDT. Parlance has been providing outsourced call center services to Echostar’s direct-to-home subscribers in the US since March 2002.

In a disclosure to the stock exchange, PLDT said Charles Ergen, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Echostar on Wednesday concluded a visit to Manila to see Parlance’s operations.

“In their discussions, PLDT and Echostar explored possibilities for expanding their call center business relationship, as well as the possibility of providing a pervasive and cost effective DTH satellite pay television service in the Philippines on a joint venture basis,” PLDT assistant corporate secretary Florentino Mabasa Jr. said. [source]