SKYCABLE Corporation is leveraging its lead in digital to provide cable subscribers the best in digital home entertainment, the unique feature which allows flexibility and customization of contents to suit individual preference for greater viewing pleasure.

The Lopez-owned cable company’s aggressive move to be at the forefront of providing consumers with choices of how, what, when, and where they watch TV content was ushered in by the introduction of SKYCABLE Select, an innovative service that powers the DigiBox, a digital set-top box that gives subscribers more flexibility and choice to tailor-fit their own cable TV line up, by allowing them to pick and choose the channels they want added to any basic cable package that they have. This has resulted in a fully customized subscription package that conforms to the family’s viewing preferences and budget.
This move to offer full digital service will culminate with the launch of another first-of-its-kind service in the country — the personal video recorder (PVR) system.

Also known as a digital video recorder (DVR), the PVR is a device that records TV onto a hard drive in digital format. Unlike video and DVD recorders, there is no need for tapes or disks. PVRs give you the ability to pause live TV, instantly replay scenes just watched while continuing to record. It is similar to TiVO, the world’s first digital video recorder which has a very large following in the US.

At the heart of any PVR is the electronic program guide (EPG). It’s needed for selecting all the things you want your PVR to record. The better the EPG, the more intuitive your PVR becomes, recording programs by itself based on your previous choices.

The SKYCABLE PVR service is currently on trial and will be commercially available by the first quarter of next year.

PIONEER AND LEADER IN HDtv IN PH

As the Philippines ushers in the age of digital broadcasting, SKYCABLE has already staked a claim in this promising new area with its recent offerings in the market of many significant firsts in both Standard Definition (SD) and High Definition (HD), thus further cementing its leadership position in the local cable TV industry.

Nowadays, if THX and 3D movies have become the new standards for theater watching, Digital and HD standard is starting to stamp its mark in home TV viewing. SKYCABLE is at the forefront of this revolution with offerings that enhance the viewing enjoyment of its subscribers by providing the widest array of digital content and High Definition (HD) programs that subscribers can choose one at a time.

In 2008, the cable firm pioneered the first HDtv broadcast in the country when it presented the Ryder Cup golf tournament in high definition followed by the introduction of 24/7 HD channels by April 2009. In June of the same year, SKYCABLE scored another winning innovation in the Philippine cable TV industry when it produced the first ever locally produced HD program with the airing of live and exclusive coverage of the UAAP and NCAA basketball games in HD. Last July, SKYCABLE also offered the exclusive HD coverage of the 2010 World Cup matches in South Africa. Since then SKYCABLE has carried on the zeal by adding more HD channels and HD pay-per-view options.
Rodrigo P. Montinola, SKYCABLE Corp. head of marketing said, with the current depth and breadth of digital content and HD program offerings of SKY, complemented by its planned innovations that are currently in the drawing board, he is confident that SKY will continue to enjoy its market leadership position in the years to come.

“Our plan of digitization of cable services augurs well with our vision of ensuring delivery of superior TV viewing experience for our customers and help bring about newfound television intelligence that makes it possible for subscribers to tailor-fit their viewing preferences,” Montinola said.

BEST HD PACKAGE OFFERING

In the latest SKYCABLE HD pay-per-view offering – the Pacquiao vs Margarito fight – SKYCABLE subscribers were able to experience “ringside” seat to all the boxing action. They can also get the same “courtside” feel when they subscribed to NBA premium on HD.
At present, SKYCABLE offers eight HD channels, namely: Discovery HD World, History HD, National Geographic Channel HD, HBO HD, NBA Premium HD, Star Movies HD, Fox Crime HD and ESPN HD.
HD fans have multiple subscription options to get their fix of high definition content.

Availing of the SKYCABLE HD Innovation pack gives them access to Discovery HD World, History HD and HBO HD while SKYCABLE HD Revolution offers Fox Crime HD, National Geographic Channel HD and Star Movies HD. Basketball fans may avail of NBA Premium HD on a separate package while a free one-year access to ESPN HD comes with a subscription to any SKYCABLE HD package.