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
ABS-CBNnow! (2003–2010)
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]
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)
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.
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.
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]
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.
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
^The website interface is only in English; However available media is mostly in Filipino with some content in English.
