iWant

iWant
Type of site
 OTT platform
Available in Filipino, English
Predecessor(s) iWant TV (2010–2018)
Area served Philippines
Owner ABS-CBN
Services video on demand
video streaming
pay per view
Website www.iwantv.com.ph
Advertising Yes
Registration Subscription to ABS-CBNmobile, PLDT, or Smart is needed for premium content.
Users 6 million (August 2017)[1]
Launched January 2010 (January 2010)
Current status Active

iWant, formerly known as iWanTV! and iWant TV, is an over-the-top content platform exclusively available in the Philippines that is owned and operated by ABS-CBN. It allows users who registered to the service to watch either a live video streaming or on demand contents of ABS-CBN on any screen and device. iWant TV users can watch the live video streaming of ABS-CBN, ABS-CBN News Channel, ABS-CBN Regional Channel, DZMM TeleRadyo, My Only Radio, and Pinoy Big Brother, as well as on-demand contents from ABS-CBN, ABS-CBN News Channel, ABS-CBN Regional, ABS-CBN Sports (S+A), Kapamilya Box Office, Pinoy Big Brother, selected local films and TV series, specials, and other exclusive and premium contents including exclusive behind-the-scenes video clips, interviews, documentaries, bloopers, and Pinoy Big Brother 360° videos. The original name iWanTV! is a portmanteau of either the sentence I want TV!, or the Tagalog word iwan (English: to leave behind) and TV, pertaining to the service helping viewers being able to catch up show episodes they had left behind.

Users can access the contents of iWant TV through either the website interface or through the iWant TV app available in iOS, android, Windows and LG Smart TV.[2][3] Although the service is free of charge, exclusive contents are only available to premium users who registered using their ABS-CBNmobile accounts[4][5] The iWant TV app can be access through either the ABS-CBN Mobile 3G and 4G LTE network or through Wi-Fi.

From the launching until the 30th of August, 2015, iWant TV has 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. On August 31, 2015, iWant TV, together with StarFlix (a new 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.[6]

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.[7]

In 2018, iWant TV started streaming Filipino-dubbed Japanese anime programs aired on ABS-CBN, beginning with the hit anime film Your Name.[8]

In October 2018, the service was officially relaunched as iWant, as the latter now emphasizes on adding original content similar to Netflix, starting with Spirits: Reawaken (a reboot version of the original 2004–2005 series), Quezon's Game, and Alamat ng Ano.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "ABS-CBN's iWant TV widens reach with PLDT, Smart partnership". ABS-CBN. September 26, 2016.
  2. ↑ "ABS-CBN's iWanTV is now on LG Smart TV!" (Press release). LG Philippines. July 15, 2011.
  3. ↑ "LG Smart TV expands entertainment options with Netflix, and more". Manila Bulletin. February 1, 2016. Archived from the original on May 27, 2016.
  4. ↑ Pe, Roger (January 31, 2013). "Which media will survive?". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  5. ↑ Red, Isah (July 18, 2015). "Secret behind success of ABS-CBN programs". Manila Standard Today.
  6. ↑ Mendoza, Arvin (September 2, 2015). "IN PHOTOS: Kim Chiu, Xian Lim star in 'Must Date the Playboy'". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  7. ↑ "ABS-CBN partners with PLDT to offer iWant TV". BusinessWorld Online. September 27, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Japanese Anime feature hit "Kimi No Na Wa" now on iWant TV". ABS-CBN Social Media Newsroom. May 3, 2018.
  9. ↑ "ABS-CBN to launch new streaming service iWant". ABS-CBNnews.com. October 4, 2018.
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