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iWantTFC
iWantTFC logo used since September 2020
Screenshot
Screenshot of iWantTFC's website
Type of businessSubsidiary
Type of site
OTT platform
PPV
Available inEnglish[a]
Founded2003; 21 years ago (2003)
Area servedWorldwide
OwnerABS-CBN Corporation
Key people
IndustryTech and Entertainment, Mass Media
Products
Services
  • Film production
  • film distribution
  • television production
  • television distribution
ParentABS-CBN Digital Media
URLiwanttfc.com
CommercialYes
RegistrationOptional; subscription required if needed for no advertisements.
UsersIncrease 11.3 million (January 2019)[1]
Launched
  • 2003; 21 years ago (2003) (as ABS-CBNnow!)
  • January 8, 2010; 14 years ago (2010-01-08) (as iWant TV)
  • November 16, 2018; 5 years ago (2018-11-16) (as iWant)
  • September 1, 2020; 4 years ago (2020-09-01) (as iWantTFC)
Current statusActive

iWantTFC (formerly known as iWant TV and iWant) is a Filipino over-the-top content platform and production company owned and operated by ABS-CBN Digital Media, a division of ABS-CBN Corporation, formed in 2020 through the merger of two streaming services iWant and TFC Online. In addition to offering on-demand contents of ABS-CBN, iWantTFC also live streams linear channels such as Kapamilya Channel, DWPM/TeleRadyo Serbisyo, ANC and Knowledge Channel.

The service is available worldwide, primarily catering to a Filipino audience.[2] The service is also a replacement for Sky On Demand of Sky Cable on September 1, 2020.

History

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ABS-CBNnow! (2003–2010)

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iWantTFC traced its origins and was first launched in 2003 as ABS-CBNnow!, a service primarily focusing to the overseas Filipino workers where they can watch ABS-CBN programs such as MTB, The Buzz and Magandang Gabi Bayan anywhere in the world using a PC with high-speed Internet or broadband connection.[3] Users can stream directly or download files and are required to install Windows Media Player in order to view contents which are DRM protected. It is one of the first Filipino owned OTT platform. As of October 2005, there are approximately 23,000 subscribers worldwide. The biggest share of its subscribers comes from the United States with 8,000, another 6,000 in the United Kingdom, 4,000 in Canada, and the rest in Korea, Japan, the Philippines and other Asian countries.[4]

iWant TV (2010–2018)

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From its launch until 2015, iWant TV had foreign contents from many pan-regional television channels such as NatGeo, the Food Network, E!, CNN, and Cartoon Network. These particular contents are now diverted into a new service called Sky On Demand which is exclusive to Sky subscribers. In August 2015, iWant TV, together with StarFlix (a division of Star Cinema) and Wattpad, released Must Date the Playboy, starring Kim Chiu, Xian Lim and directed by Mae Cruz Alviar, the first movie to be released exclusively through iWant TV and ABS-CBN Mobile service.[5]

On September 26, 2016, a partnership with PLDT and its subsidiary Smart Communications was announced during a signing ceremony attended by Eugenio Lopez III (Chairman of ABS-CBN), Carlo Katigbak (President and CEO of ABS-CBN), Manny Pangilinan (Chairman of PLDT) and other ABS-CBN, PLDT and Smart executives. The partnership will enable PLDT and Smart customers to access the iWant TV website and mobile apps.[6]

In 2018, iWant TV began streaming Filipino-dubbed Japanese anime series and movies that aired on ABS-CBN's original channel, starting with the hit anime film Your Name.[7]

As iWant (2018–2020)

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iWant logo used from November 2018 to August 2020

On November 16, 2018, the service officially relaunched as iWant, which now emphasizes on adding original content similar to Netflix and Iflix,[8] featuring Spirits: Reawaken (a reboot version of the original 2004–2005 TV series), Quezon's Game, and Alamat ng Ano.[9] Glorious and MA were the first two iWant original movies. In May 2019, the service adds the 2005 version of the Japanese animé series Doraemon (which airs on Yey!, an exclusive channel of ABS-CBN TV Plus), becoming the second animé title to be streamed on iWant.[10]

A television special called iWant Originals premiered on ABS-CBN's Yes Weekend! Sunday evening block on August 11, 2019, replacing the 14-year-old comedy gag show Goin' Bulilit. Some scenes were edited for the TV version due to strict guidelines of the MTRCB. On August 18, Call Me Tita was the first original series to premiere simultaneously on both iWant and ABS-CBN. iWant Originals was cancelled on September 22, 2019, to give way for the Kapamilya Super Blockbusters movie block.

On March 16, 2020, iWant Originals returned on ABS-CBN's Primetime Bida as part of the special TV programming due to the Enhanced community quarantine in Luzon caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. iWant Originals showcased some of their fresh, most-watched programs. In the list are; Julia Barretto's mystery-thriller I Am U, making it the lead miniseries, followed by Jodi Sta. Maria's My Single Lady and Joseph Marco's Uncoupling.[11]

Various iWant Originals series airs weekdays on The Filipino Channel, a global subscription television network owned and operated by ABS-CBN. Each series or part of a mini-series will be replaced by another iWant Originals series. Beginning with Past, Present, Perfect? which aired on May 4, 2020; followed by Taiwan That You Love on May 12; My Single Lady on May 20; Uncoupling on May 28; The End: Balikbayan on June 5; Spirits: Reawaken on June 8; The End: Accidental Friend on June 26; Bagman on June 29; Touchscreen:Wittyrella; Touchscreen:It's A Match; Bagman: New Season; The End: Third Wheel on July 30; Alamat ng Ano on August 3; HIGH on August 17; Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 3: The Real Untold Story of Josephine Bracken on August 27; Jhon en Martian on September 7, as part of the special TV programming due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On the weekends, TNT Boys: Journey to the World Stage, a documentary series airing on June 6, 2020. Also, another documentary series Unlisted, airing in July 2020. iWant Originals ended on September 25, 2020.

iWant also streamed Pantawid ng Pag-ibig: At Home Together Concert on March 22, 2020, together with ABS-CBN, S+A, ANC, Jeepney TV, DZMM Radyo Patrol 630, DZMM TeleRadyo, Metro Channel, Myx, Asianovela Channel, and TFC. The concert was aimed to help the people who were in need because of the community quarantine in Luzon and the COVID-19 pandemic.

As iWantTFC (2020–present)

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On September 1, 2020, iWant merged with TFC Online and was soft launched as iWantTFC. The service inherited the worldwide accessibility of the latter service.[12] TFC IPTV and TFC Direct via cable and satellite subscribers have instant online access to iWantTFC with TFC Everywhere (TVE) feature.[13] They also made iWantTFC's full library accessible for free for users in the Philippines.[14][15]

On April 26, 2023, ABS-CBN and GMA Network announced its collaboration to offer GMA's international channels namely GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, and GMA News TV as well as selected GMA programs on iWantTFC starting May 1 for users outside of the Philippines and North America (particularly Canada and the United States).[16][17]

Content

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Main article: List of iWantTFC original programming

iWantTFC stores over 10,000 hours of content and programs, over 1,000 films, and several live on-demand channels and video-on-demand. Most of its content and films are produced by ABS-CBN Corporation's divisions such as ABS-CBN Entertainment and ABS-CBN Films. In addition, there are over 20 original films and over 50 original series produced by iWantTFC.

The platform also provides live streams of several of ABS-CBN's broadcast properties, some operated by ABS-CBN's subsidiaries Creative Programs, Inc. and ABS-CBN International. Kapamilya Channel, TeleRadyo Serbisyo (formerly known as ABS-CBN TeleRadyo), and Knowledge Channel are exclusively available in the Philippines; while The Filipino Channel, ANC Global, TeleRadyo Serbisyo Global, Cinema One Global, Cine Mo! Global, MOR Entertainment and Myx America (North America Only) are available outside of the Philippines.[citation needed]

On April 26, 2023, ABS-CBN and GMA Network (which would later airing a simulcast of It's Showtime along with AMBS' All TV, which took over the former main domestic ABS-CBN's channel frequencies and all of the stations),[18][19][20][21] announced that GMA Pinoy TV and select GMA programs will be available on ABS-CBN's iWantTFC for viewers outside of the Philippines and North America. Available from May 1, 2023, the streaming channels of GMA Pinoy TV, GMA News TV and GMA Life TV are arrived on iWantTFC in Latin America, Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific.[22]

Notes

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  1. ^ The website interface is only in English; However available media is mostly in Filipino with some content in English.

References

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  1. ^ "ABS-CBN's iWant starts 2019 with 11.3 million subscribers". ABS-CBN News. January 17, 2019. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  2. ^ "ABS-CBN to launch new streaming service iWant". ABS-CBN News. October 4, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  3. ^ Philippine Daily Inquirer (May 13, 2004). Watch, listen to ABS-CBN on the Web. p. 29. Retrieved July 25, 2023 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ "ABS-CBN expects hefty profits from Internet TV". Philstar.com. October 29, 2005. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  5. ^ Mendoza, Arvin (September 2, 2017). "IN PHOTOS: Kim Chiu, Xian Lim star in 'Must Date the Playboy'". Inquirer.net. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  6. ^ "ABS-CBN partners with PLDT to offer iWant TV". BusinessWorld Online. September 27, 2016. Archived from the original on November 6, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  7. ^ "Japanese Anime feature hit 'Kimi No Na Wa' now on iWant TV". ABS-CBN Corporate. May 3, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  8. ^ "ABS-CBN's IWant goes live on mobile, desktop ahead of launch". ABS-CBN News. November 16, 2018. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  9. ^ "ABS-CBN to launch new streaming service iWant". ABS-CBN News. October 4, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  10. ^ Melegrito, JM (May 27, 2019). "ABS-CBN adds Doraemon's 2005 television series to iWant streaming service". Anime Pilipinas. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  11. ^ "READ: ABS-CBN statement on special primetime programming amid Metro Manila quarantine". ABS-CBN News. March 14, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  12. ^ "iWant to merge with TFC Online". ABS-CBN News. August 24, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  13. ^ "Get the convenience of watching anytime, anywhere with TFC Everywhere!". iWantTFC. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  14. ^ "iWant TFC libre na para sa lahat ng users sa Pilipinas". ABS-CBN News (in Tagalog). June 30, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  15. ^ "iWantTFC, libre na ang advance teleserye episodes, originals, at 1,000 movies sa Pilipinas". Philstar.com. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  16. ^ "GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, and GMA News TV on iWantTFC in select regions starting May 1". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  17. ^ "GMA to stream shows in ABS-CBN's iWantTFC". The Philippine Star. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  18. ^ "'It's Showtime' surprises viewers with sudden broadcast on AllTV". LionhearTV. June 17, 2024. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  19. ^ Richard de Leon (June 18, 2024). "Tahimik lang: It's Showtime balik-Channel 2, napapanood na rin sa ALLTV". balita.net.ph. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  20. ^ "'It's Showtime' debuts on GMA Network with a bang". GMA News. April 6, 2024. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  21. ^ "[ANALYSIS] A new era of noontime TV: GMA-7 takes in ABS-CBN's 'It's Showtime'". Rappler. April 10, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  22. ^ "GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, and GMA News TV on iWantTFC in select regions starting May 1". ABS-CBN News. April 26, 2023.
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