THE Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) Group will not hike yet investments in mobile television services even if commercial operations are expected to start within this year.

The group has poured in P1.4 billion already, said MediaQuest Holdings Inc. president Orlando Vea. MediaQuest is the investment vehicle of the PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund and Vea is also the chief wireless adviser of Smart Communications Inc., the cellular unit of PLDT.

“There are no additional investments needed to launch myTV. We are not budgeting more than what we have already allotted. Our network is in place and ready for commercial operation,” said Vea.

Right now, the PLDT Group is the only entity offering mobile TV service. Its cellular unit Smart has partnered with Nation Broadcasting Corp. (NBC), a unit under MediaQuest, in offering mobile TV service under the brand myTV. “Further investments will depend on the demand and market response,” PLDT president Napoleon Nazareno earlier said.

MediaQuest has reportedly sought for income tax holiday (ITH) incentives for the registration of the myTV project. But reports have it that the government has turned down the request because the project has no impact on the country’s economic development. “We just have to accept that and work out a strategy by which we can make the business viable,” Nazareno had said.

The commercial launch of myTV will take place as soon as the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issues the permit. This was put on hold pending the issuance of the rules governing digital TV-Terrestrial/Handheld (DT-T/H) service.

NTC, according to commissioner Ruel Canobas, will issue authorizations to aspiring mobile TV operators after the approval of the new rules. Digital TV and mobile TV, he said, are two interrelated services.

“We are waiting for the policy of the NTC. The agency is working very carefully on the release of the draft rules on digital TV broadcast and around 30 to 45 days after publication of the rules they will come out with the policy on mobile TV,” said PLDT head for regulatory affairs and policy Ray Espinosa.

The commission awaits the final recommendation of the technical working group including the technology platform best suited to provide robust signal for both fixed and mobile receivers in the country.

The group’s recommendation will be the basis of the rules governing the use of DTT technology in the country. NTC, said Canobas, has to pick a technology standard that will be adopted by the broadcast industry in offering digital TV service. America’s Advanced Television Systems Committee, Japan ’s Integrated Services Digital Broadcast and Europe’s Digital Video Broadcast Handheld  are the three standards being considered.

It looks like business magnate Alfredo M. Yao may be softening his stand on buying low-cost carrier South East Asian Airlines Inc. (Seair)

Brewer’s shares up 6% on first trading day

AMID the prevailing volatility in the equities market, San Miguel Brewery Inc. (SMB) completed a successful market debut as its share price jumped 6.25 percent to P8.50 each at the end of its first trading day yesterday.

THE Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) Group will not hike yet investments in mobile television services even if commercial operations are expected to start within this year.

Globe Telecom will soon carry Apple’s iPhone handset, the cellular firm said.

“Globe, SingTel, Bharti Airtel and Optus announced that they have signed an agreement with Apple to bring the iPhone to the Philippines, Singapore, India and Australia later this year,” the two-paragraph statement on Globe’s web site stated.

BUSINESS process outsourcing firm StarTek Inc. said soaring inflation, wage and attrition rates in the country are not as “painful” as in the US, boosting confidence of executives on the center the company is opening late this month.

NEW YORK—Tribune Co. agreed Sunday to sell the Long Island newspaper Newsday to Cablevision Systems Corp. for $650 million.

The deal—structured as a tax-free joint venture—would give Tribune $612 million in cash to pay down its nearly $13-billion debt.

THE obvious sign of bad times, it seems, is taking its toll on the market as shown by what KS Investments Pte. Ltd. of Singapore, a holding company investing in ship building, is about to undertake: it is set to take out of the Philippine Stock Exchange its unit, Keppel Philippines Marine Inc. (KPM).