ABS-CBN

ABS-CBN inks deal with WeTV iflix to stream ‘primetime bida’ shows

Bea Cupin

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

ABS-CBN inks deal with WeTV iflix to stream ‘primetime bida’ shows

Image courtesy of WeTV iflix

VIP users can stream 'FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano,' 'Huwag Kang Mangamba' and 'Init Sa Magdamag' ahead of their local TV airing

Philippine entertainment giant ABS-CBN and streaming platform WeTV iflix announced Wednesday, March 17, a multi-year partnership that will grant WeTV iflix VIP subscribers access to primetime dramas ahead of their TV airing.

The “first salvo” of the deal includes shows in ABS-CBN’s “Primetime Bida” block, or its evening primetime lineup. FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, Huwag Kang Mangamba and Init Sa Magdamag will stream on WeTV iflix a full two days ahead of local TV airing, as long you’re a VIP user.

Once the show airs on local TV – through ABS-CBN’s cable and free TV arrangements – the episodes will be available for another 2 to 3 hours for free users.

The deal, said WeTV and iflix Philippines country manager Georgette Tengco, is part of their “major content push” for 2021.

“One of our main goals for this year has been to give our users the power of choice when it comes to their entertainment, especially now that we are spending more time at home. Bringing excellent local content and compelling stories to you first is a big step in that direction, and we are excited to have ABS-CBN as our partner in this endeavor,” she said.

Ang Probinsyano is ABS-CBN’s long-running action drama series that follows the charismatic Cardo Dalisay (Coco Martin), a one-time cop who battles and survives both violence and politics in a fictionalized version of the Philippines.

Huwag Kang Mangamba, a new show, is top-billed by some of ABS-CBN’s young and upcoming stars, known collectively as the “Gold Squad” (Andrea Brillantes, Seth Fedelin, Francine Diaz, and Kyle Echarri). The show is set in a fictional town where two girls die in separate incidents only to miraculously come back to life.

Init Sa Magdamag, starring Gerald Anderson, JM De Guzman, and Yam Concepcion, features a love triangle “marked not only by love, but by passion, betrayal, and a sense of family.”

Both Ang Probinsyano and Huwag Kang Mangamba will begin streaming on March 20 while Init Sa Magdamag begins streaming on April 17.

A WeTV subscription costs P99 monthly, P269 quarterly, and P999 for an entire year. WeTV is a product under Tencent Video, one of China’s leading online video platforms.

ABS-CBN is among the country’s biggest media networks. In 2020, they went off free TV for a while after the government did not renew its franchise. President Rodrigo Duterte himself had threatened ABS-CBN, and continues to attack it even after the franchise loss.

ABS-CBN’s shows – particularly its entertainment programs – eventually returned to free and cable TV through deals with various companies. ABS-CBN earlier inked a deal with TV5 to air its programs on free TV. – Rappler.com

– Rappler.com

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!
Avatar photo

author

Bea Cupin

Bea is a senior multimedia reporter who covers national politics. She's been a journalist since 2011 and has written about Congress, the national police, and the Liberal Party for Rappler.