New territories captivated by ABS-CBN content.
Unveiling its drama and movie offerings through a burst of tropical colors in its eye-catching booth, ABS-CBN INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION successfully enticed new and non-traditional buyers in MIPTV 2015, dubbed as the world’s most established digital and content market. The ABS-CBN booth was a welcome sight with its non-stop string of deal meetings and numerous inquiries throughout the three-day market last April in Cannes, France.
“It was our first time to be an exhibitor in MIPTV and we were glad to have waited this long, as everything fell perfectly in place,” says Evelyn “Leng” Raymundo, Head of ABS-CBN Acquisition and International Distribution. “The diaspora of Filipinos abroad has been a vehicle for our content to be known elsewhere in the world. We were pleasantly surprised to learn that some of our buyers were familiar with our programs through their Filipino spouses or friends who are avid viewers of our dramas.”
“Be Careful With My Heart”, the long-running daytime hit on Philippine TV which also made a big splash in Vietnam and Uganda, was readily picked up in MIPTV for free television airing in Kazakhstan.
Viewers from this Central Asian country have given a warm reception to “Forevermore”, the Philippines’ current No. 1 primetime program, when it premiered last April on national commercial broadcast TV. The network's buyers first saw "Forevermore" in the Asian market and closed the deal outright with ABS-CBN International Distribution. The romantic series was dubbed in Kazakh and Russian and is the first Filipino drama to air in Central Asia, where Indian and Turkish TV programs are the usual fare. A network source says that for a foreign series with unfamiliar actors to their viewers, “Forevermore” showed a good ratings index on primetime during its first week and is expected to do even better in the weeks to come.
Meanwhile, “The Legal Wife” has began its run at the national free television station of Macedonia, generating numerous inquiries from other networks in the Balkan Region.
Apart from its world-class TV dramas, ABS-CBN International Distribution's booth in MIPTV also proudly exhibited and garnered enthusiastic response for three of last year's movie blockbusters, "Crazy Beautiful You", "Feng Shui" and "That Thing Called Tadhana".
Following its successful showcase of Filipino content on MIPTV, ABS-CBN International Distribution brings the second quarter to a strong close with the much-awaited remake of “The Promise” (“Pangako Sa ‘Yo”) due to premiere on Philippine screens later in May. "It is the very first Filipino series which was picked up worldwide, bringing recognition to ABS-CBN and the Philippines as a premiere source of content," says Raymundo.
Having aired in 17 other countries, "The Promise" is the most successful Filipino drama among non-Filipino viewers and its remake, produced 15 years after its original run on ABS-CBN, already generated buzz among international buyers when its teaser was shown in MIPTV.
This goes to show that Filipino content has effectively transcended language and cultural barriers and ABS-CBN, the most prolific Filipino producer and storyteller, is paving the way for its wider acceptance and popularity.
ABS-CBN International Distribution has been recognized in the global arena as a reliable foreign content provider. It has been a premier source of high quality Filipino programming in over 50 territories all over the world and has sold over 30,000 hours of content worldwide. Living up to this recognition, ABS-CBN International Distribution commits to add to its line-up of high-caliber programs and movies with cast and storylines that appeal to various cultures. For more information, visit ABS-CBN International Distribution’s official website at http://internationalsales.abs-cbn.com.
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MIPTV, 2015, abs-cbn