Aiming Higher About our cover In 2008, GMA Network, Inc. inaugurated the GMA Network Studios, the most technologically-advanced studio facility in the country. It is a testament to our commitment to enrich the lives of Filipinos everywhere with superior entertainment and the responsible delivery of news and information. The 2008 Annual Report’s theme, “Aiming Higher,” is our commitment to our shareholders that will enable us to give significant returns on their investments. 3 Purpose/Vision/Values 4 Aiming Higher the Chairman’s Message 8 Report on Operations by the EVP and COO 13 Profile of the Business 19 Corporate Governance 22 A Triumphant 2008 32 GMA Network Studios 34 Corporate Social Responsibility 38 A Rewarding 2008 41 Executive Profile 50 Contact Information 55 Financial Statements GMA ended 2008 awash with cash amounting to P1.688 billion and free of debt, which enabled us to upgrade our regional facilities, complete our new building housing state-of-the-art studios and further expand our international operations. AIMING HIGHER THE CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE Dear Fellow Shareholders: The year 2008 will be remembered for the Our efforts in keeping in step with financial crisis that started in the United States and its domino-effect on the rest of the world. The the rest of the world will further Philippine economy was not spared, and for the first time in seven years, gross domestic product improve our ratings and widen our (GDP) slowed down to 4.6%. High inflation, high reach as our superior programs will oil prices and the deepening global financial crisis in the fourth quarter caused many investors serious be better seen and appreciated by concerns. As a result, the stock market plummeted Filipinos here and abroad and prices of stocks tumbled down to very low levels including that of our own. GMA Network’s share price, which, at the beginning of 2008 was Gross revenues from regional operations increased at P7.70, dropped to P3.45 by the end of the year. from P51 million in 2007 to P77 million in 2008, an Although the price of GMA shares followed the increase of 50.5%. Our international operations also did market trend, the drop in its price was not as big as very well this year by registering a 25% increase in its that of other comparable companies in the market. subscriber base. It increased its share in the Company’s consolidated revenues from 3.5% last year to 4.7% this In spite of these developments, I am pleased to year by growing in gross revenues from P426 million report to you that we ended the year creditably in 2007 to P590 million this year. Our subsidiary, well with modest growth and favorable results for GMA Films, Inc., likewise contributed to the increase our Company. Consolidated revenues grew 4% to in the Company’s consolidated revenues. All these P12.497 billion in 2008. Net income went up by 3% make us ready and prepared to face the challenges of to P2.369 billion. EBITDA ended at P4.444 billion, a worldwide economic slowdown that is expected to less than 1% or P15 million lower than last year. continue in 2009 and beyond. Total assets grew to P12.466 billion, 7% higher Strategies Driving Growth than last year’s P11.685 billion, while total liabilities decreased by 14% from P3.146 GMA’s solid financial results in 2008 despite the billion in 2007 to P2.711 billion this year. prevailing economic environment must be viewed in Thus, the Company ended the year awash with the context of the strategic moves that we undertook five cash amounting to P1.688 billion and free of years back and continue to implement this year. At that debt. These enabled us to meet our key targets time, while the Company had succeeded in maintaining involving the upgrading of our regional facilities, growth, the opportunity to obtain the leadership of the completion of our new building housing the industry has not been fully exploited. To put GMA state-of-the-art studios and the expansion of our Network, Inc. on a new growth path, we defined a international operations. vision premised on our ability to provide superior entertainment and the responsible delivery of news and Our relatively strong financial performance was information to Filipinos wherever they may be. We took driven by the good performance of our television bold steps to rapidly expand our business by investing business. GMA and QTV programs continued to in the production of world-class content, growing our deliver high ratings especially in Mega Manila audience with the upgrading of our provincial facilities and Luzon that comprise 77% of the TV viewing to improve signal, clarity and reach of reception, and audience. GMA outperformed its competitor in keeping in step with new technology. ad loading with an 18,484 minutes advantage during the year. QTV, on the other hand, increased We started upgrading our facilities and strengthen our its loading by 6,087 minutes or 18.7% in 2008 presence in the provinces in 2004 and as of December compared with the previous year. Its gross this year, we have completed our TV transmitter facility revenues increased from P340 million in 2007 to upgrades in the key cities, among them: TV-5 Davao P396 million in 2008 or by 16.3%. City, TV-10 Bacolod City, TV-12 Jolo,Sulu; TV-11 Iligan GMA ANNUAL REPORT 2008 • AIMING HIGHER5 City, TV-12 Cagayan de Oro City, TV-10 Sto. Tomas, Dividend Payments Benguet; TV-12 Mt. Banoy, Batangas; TV-12 Kitanglad, TV-8 General Santos City, TV-7 Bonbon, Cebu City, The continued improvement of our financial position TV -12 Legaspi and TV-7 Naga City. The Company has allowed us to fulfill our commitment to provide invested P302.16 million for the transmitter facility significant returns to our shareholders. In 2008, upgrades alone. In addition, we have also upgraded the although newly listed, the Company paid its studio facilities of our originating stations in Dagupan shareholders P1.214 billion in dividends. and Davao and equipped them with live ENG capability. GMA viewers in these areas now enjoy our programs Kapuso in National Development with greater clarity. Beyond the scope of our business is our involvement We are moving faster to finish our signal upgrade with corporate social responsibility or CSR. projects and will be spending over P200 million more next year to acquire new transmitters and other Over the years, GMA has demonstrated that it is Kapuso equipment to improve the signal quality and expand (one in heart) with the country’s national welfare and the reach of our remaining TV stations particularly in development. By expanding our operations nationwide, Visayas and Mindanao. This year, we also completed the we have created more jobs and helped stimulate construction of the GMA Network Studios that required economic activity. As a group, we provide direct an investment amounting to almost P1 billion. We employment to more than 4,000 employees and talents expect that these moves will further improve our ratings and continue to spur economic activities through our and expand our reach as our superior programs will be suppliers, partners and content providers nationwide. better seen and appreciated by viewers nationwide. Our advocacies helped educate and raise the socio-civic consciousness of our people. The programs and activities Three years ago, we introduced our GMA Pinoy TV of our GMA Kapuso Foundation and the Kapwa Ko abroad and this year, we launched a new international Mahal Ko Foundation have contributed to the general channel---GMA Life TV---making more of our programs welfare of the poorest of the poor. available to Filipinos residing abroad. In 2008, we We have also worked with other foundations and multi- sectoral groups such as the Ayala Foundation to help With a sustained healthy financial connect public high schools to the internet through performance, we did not have to our donations of computers to the GILAS (Gearing Up Internet Literacy and Access for Students) program borrow money to accomplish our and the Haribon Foundation to push biodiversity conservation. We have Habitat Foundation as the plans as these were funded with partner of our GMA Kapuso Foundation in constructing internally-generated funds. classrooms and school buildings under the Adopt-A- School Project of the Department of Education and Culture. We provide scholarships for University of the developed more new and innovative programs to Philippines and Don Bosco Technical College students. increase the diversity and value of our programs in GMA and QTV. Today, GMA has become a formidable The taxes we have paid to local and national treasuries--- content provider offering an array of programs and income taxes, VAT and other direct and indirect taxes- documentaries available not only on TV but now also --amounted to more than P2.1 billion in 2008. For our on-line. contributions, GMA Network, Inc. has been acknowledged as among the top taxpayers of Quezon City. These We are happy that we have accomplished most, if initiatives are consistent with our mission to enrich the lives not all of what we planned for five years ago. With a of Filipinos and to be a key partner in promoting the best in sustained healthy financial performance, we did not the Filipino. have to borrow money to accomplish our plans as these were funded with internally-generated funds. We have Awards improved our facilities and infrastructure in the regions and will continue to do so. We successfully launched We have relentlessly endeavored to make GMA our two international TV channels and considerably Network, Inc.