GMA Network Declares PhP1.2B Cash Dividends
The Board of Directors of GMA Network Inc. (PSE: GMA) approved the declaration of cash dividends at PhP0.25 per share, payable on 19 May 2015 to shareholders on record as of April 24, 2015.
The dividends totaling PhP1.215 billion represent a payout ratio of 120 percent in relation to the Company’s 2014 net income. Since its IPO in 2007, GMA has returned a total of PhP15.456 billion to its shareholders.
“2014 was both challenging and rewarding,” said GMA Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon. “On one hand, our consolidated revenues dropped 8 percent to PhP11.939 billion, while net income settled at PhP1.010 billion primarily due to the absence of political advertisements. On the other, our efforts to efficiently manage our costs resulted in a flat operating expenses of PhP10.569 billion with a 7 percent reduction in our production cost without compromising the quality of our programs.”
GMA sustained its lead in viewer-rich Urban Luzon and Mega Manila for the full year of 2014. Based on data from the industry’s widely-trusted ratings service provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement, GMA cemented its total day household shares supremacy in the two areas, while leading across all dayparts including the highly contested primetime slot.
2014 was also a banner year for DZBB, GMA’s flagship AM station, as it became number one in Mega Manila in the second quarter due to stronger news and public affairs programming, and the station’s efforts in garnering and keeping the trust of its listeners through its brand of Serbisyong Totoo.
GMA continues to gain ground worldwide as the Network’s international business unit generated revenues of PhP1.070 billion, following the increase in subscriber count of GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV and GMA News TV International by 4%, 8% and 59%, respectively.
Meanwhile, audiences in Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Nigeria, to name a few, continue to enjoy popular Kapuso programs as GMA Worldwide, the global content distribution and acquisition arm of the Network, sold an aggregate 2,052 hours of locally-produced programs and movies.
GMA New Media, Inc. (NMI) significantly increased its online advertising revenues by 79 percent versus 2013 boosted by the sustained growth in page views and unique browsers for both GMA News Online and the GMA Network Portal, GMA’s official entertainment website. The increase is also attributed to the strategic and aggressive use of social media, and to enhancements that have made the websites more intuitive, relevant and reader-friendly
The Network also won its fourth George Foster Peabody Award for its special coverage of typhoon Yolanda in 2014, adding to its string of notable achievements. GMA remains to be the only news and public affairs organization in the country to have received this most coveted award for broadcast excellence.
Gozon said that he is optimistic for 2015 owing to marked improvements already seen at the onset of the year. “If the first three months are any indication, it reinforces our view that it will be a much better year for the company. Likewise, we see exciting times ahead for our viewers as we launch new, game-changing programs in the coming months,” he concluded.