(2 July 2005 5:00 pm)

MUMBAI: EarthTV has announced its cooperation with the Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT) to showcase the Philippines to the world through EarthTV's live daily programming.

EarthTV, part of the Telcast Media Media Group has installated its patented broadcast camera systems at key locations in the Philippines to telecast daily live programmes.

The global audience, the German based EarthTV would be targetting on a daily basis is more than one billion viewers, says a media release.

The first EarthTV cameras were installed in June 2005 and are located at the Shangri-La Hotel in the commercial heart City of Makati and at the Shangri-La Resort at Mactan Island, Cebu.

The media group is eyeing other potential locations. The telecom infrastructure to operate the camera network is being supplied by Globe Telecom's Innove Division.

Commenting on the cooperation, PDOT tourism secretary Joseph Ace Durano enthused, "EarthTV brings the Philippines to global TV audiences and travellers around the world. For the first time, they will experience the country live on television on a daily basis."

Durano went on to add, "The Philippines is an outstanding destination, and our cooperation with EarthTV now enables us to communicate the islands' exceptional tourism possibilities more effectively to a larger audience."

EarthTV president Thomas Hohenacker stated, "We are delighted to add the Philippines to our worldwide network and to display the beauty of this country to our audiences around the world."

The release adds that 2005 will see Earth TV's rapid growth in Asia, with cameras installed across the continent to bring the continent's most recognizable, interesting, spectacular, unique and iconic sites closer to the world's TV audiences.

Hohenacker noted, "Asia has a wealth of spectacular and unique locations. Starting with some of the Philippines' we look forward to bringing more of Asia to our TV audiences, and naturally transporting our TV audiences to Asia every day of the year."

EarthTV was launched three years ago. Today the group has broadcast partnerships with over 30 channels worldwide in seven languages, and on a growing number of mobile phone platforms.

In addition, recently, EarthTV inked a deal for the series The World Live and Motion Time Lapse to air on Philippines broadcast group ABS CBN.