MANILA - Seven in 10 households in Metro Manila with TV sets are on digital and 1 in 2 homes without cable have ABS-CBN's TVplus digital box, the country's largest media and entertainment network said Wednesday.

TVPlus had 3.6 million subscribers as of September and the digital service has helped ABS-CBN maintain its lead in the ratings.

Seventy-two percent of TV households in the capital have digital TV, cable or direct to home satellite, ABS-CBN said, citing a 3-part Kantar Media study from February to August.

Among homes without cable, 55 percent had TVPlus, which costs only P1,499 for the device with no monthly fees, ABS-CBN said in a statement.

In Mega Manila, 44 percent of non-cabled homes enjoy free exclusive channels on ABS-CBN TVplus boxes, the company said in a statement.

“We are on track to hit our target of selling a cumulative total of 4 million ABS-CBN TVplus boxes this year as more Filipinos experience ABS-CBN TVplus’ promise of clear picture and additional exclusive channels with no monthly fees,” said Chinky Alcedo, head of ABS-CBN Digital Terrestrial Television.

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TVPlus offers channels that broadcast on digital, including ABS-CBN and S+A (Sports and Action), plus exclusive channels DZMM Teleradyo, Yey and CineMo.

Signal coverage is available in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Rizal, Laguna, Pampanga, Tarlac, Benguet, Cavite, Metro Cebu, Cagayan De Oro, Iloilo, Bacolod, and Davao.