ABS-CBN CORPORATION TEAMS WITH IBM TO ACCELERATE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

ABS-CBN CORPORATION TEAMS WITH IBM TO ACCELERATE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

[Photo Caption] From left to right: Abraham Thomas, Managing Partner, ASEAN, IBM Global Business Services; Ding Ventura-Villarino, Client Executive for Lopez Group, IBM Philippines; Kellar Nevill, Managing Partner, Asia Pacific Services, IBM Global Business Services; Neil McCormack, General Manager, Asia Pacific, IBM Global Business Services; Luis Pineda, President & Country General Manager, IBM Philippines; Randy Walker, General Manager, IBM Asia Pacific; Carlo Katigbak, President & Chief Executive Officer, ABS-CBN; Mark Lopez, Chief Technology Officer, ABS-CBN; Rolando Valdueza, Head, Corporate Services Group 2 and Group Chief Financial Officer, ABS-CBN; Raymundo Miranda, Chief Strategy and Risk Management Officer, ABS-CBN; Atty. Caesar Poblador, Head, Legal Services, ABS-CBN; Philbert Berba, Head, Human Resources and Organizational Development, ABS-CBN.

QUEZON CITY, Philippines, 10 March 2016 – IBM (NYSE: IBM) and ABS-CBN Corporation (PSE: ABS) today announced the signing of the Application Management Services agreement, which takes ABS-CBN one step further in its strategy to concentrate on its core competencies, while it evolves into a world-class media and entertainment company based on innovative viewer experience and strong brand power.

Under the agreement, ABS-CBN will transition its Application Management Services to IBM. IBM will simplify and integrate ABS-CBN’s existing IT operation through a centralized team and a standardized delivery framework of best practices, such as DevOps, Agile development, and testing. IBM will establish a company-wide IT architecture that will support ABS-CBN’s enterprise transformation and help enable them to respond quickly to market changes. The two companies will work closely to innovate and deliver a full suite of integrated solutions to enhance customer experience.

“ABS-CBN Corporation is a diverse media and entertainment company that engages Filipinos worldwide in every aspect of their lives. Whether it is watching and listening to our shows, connecting with their loved ones via ABS-CBNmobile, sending cash to their families back home via ABS-CBN myRemit and now, even enjoying educational play with their children at Kidzania, ABS-CBN always wants to deliver the best customer experience. This very complex and dynamic environment requires flexibility, agility, and efficiency, especially in our IT systems.  Our partnership with IBM allows us to focus on our IT strategic initiatives while they support us with solutions that address our requirements considering the fast-paced environment in which we exist,” shares Mark Lopez, Chief Technology Officer of ABS-CBN Corporation.

“Services agreements are key in helping clients transform their business, focus on their core strengths, and quickly respond to market changes,” said Luis Pineda, President & Country General Manager, IBM Philippines. “Our AMS solutions for ABS-CBN will enable them to address immediate IT transformation requirements that are needed to drive digital innovation. It provides them an opportunity to concentrate on the strategic parts of their business for increased efficiency and profitability. New generation of technologies and practices can help them visualize, virtualize, and integrate business process and systems more efficiently. We are excited to team with ABS-CBN and explore ways in which IBM can deliver value to their organization.”

About ABS-CBN Corporation

ABS-CBN Corporation is the Philippines’ leading media and entertainment organization. The Company is primarily involved in television and radio broadcasting, as well as in the production of television and radio programming for domestic and international audiences and other related businesses. ABS-CBN produces a wide variety of engaging world-class entertainment programs in multiple genres and balanced, credible news programs that are aired on free-to-air television. The Company is also one of the leading radio broadcasters, operating eighteen radio stations throughout the key cities of the Philippines. ABS-CBN provides news and entertainment programming for eight channels on cable TV and operates the country’s largest cable TV service provider. The Company also owns the leading cinema and music production and distribution outfits in the country. It brings its content to worldwide audiences via cable, satellite, online and mobile.  In addition, ABS-CBN has business interests in merchandising and licensing, mobile and online multimedia services, glossy magazine publishing, video and audio post production, overseas telecommunication services, money remittance, cargo forwarding, TV shopping services, theme park development and management, property management and food and restaurant services, all of which complement and enhance the Company’s strength in content production and distribution. The Company is also the first TV network in the country to broadcast in digital. In 2015, it commercially rolled out its digital TV box, ABS-CBN TVplus, to prepare for the country’s switch to digital TV.