GMA Network Inc. reported a 98‑percent drop in its January‑September net income, as the end of election‑driven advertising revenue, inflation, and economic uncertainty dragged down its core broadcast business.
The network’s consolidated net income after tax fell to just P33 million from P2.069 billion in the same period a year ago. GMA also posted a third‑quarter net loss of P77.36 million, reversing the P101.99‑million profit it recorded during the same quarter last year.
Total nine‑month revenues slipped to P9.66 billion, down P4.319 billion year‑on‑year, largely because political and advocacy ads for the 2025 midterm elections were no longer present. Advertising, which accounts for 89 percent of GMA’s total revenue, dropped 33 percent to P8.64 billion, with free‑to‑air TV and radio airtime sales taking the biggest hit. GMA said advertisers remained cautious amid high fuel costs, inflation, supply‑chain issues, rising labor and utility expenses, Middle‑East geopolitical risks, and the ongoing shift of audiences and marketing budgets toward digital platforms. Weak consumer spending also forced brands to cut or delay ad placements as households prioritized essential goods.
Other revenue sources including subscriptions, production services, and merchandise sales declined 12 percent to P1.028 billion. While GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, and GMA News TV saw modest revenue gains supported by favorable exchange rates, production‑related revenues fell 22 percent. Higher OTT licensing income softened that decline. Sales of GMA Affordabox also weakened, pulled down by lower unit sales and the May 15 2025 price cut from P799 to P699.
The results highlight the dual challenge facing the Philippine broadcast giant: recovering from the post‑election ad slump while adapting to changing viewer and advertiser behavior.
