iWantTFC (formerly and later known as iWant; originally ABS-CBNnow! and then iWant TV) is an over-the-top content platform and production company in the Philippines 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. 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 OFWs where they can watch ABS-CBN local programs (such as TV Patrol, MTB, The Buzz, and Magandang Gabi... Bayan) anywhere in the world using a PC with high-speed Internet or broadband connection.
iWant TV (2010–2018)[]
From its launch until 2015, iWant TV had foreign contents from many pan-regional television channels including National Geographic, 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 introduced the film Must Date the Playboy, the first movie that was released exclusively through iWant TV and ABS-CBN Mobile service.[1]
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 L. Katigbak (President and CEO of ABS-CBN), Manny Pangilinan (Chairman of PLDT) and other executives of ABS-CBN, PLDT and Smart. The partnership would enable PLDT and Smart customers to access the iWant TV website and mobile apps.[2]
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.[3] It featured Spirits: Reawaken (a reboot of the original television series), Quezon's Game, and Alamat ng Ano.[4] Glorious and MA were the first two iWant original films.
As iWantTFC (2020–2025)[]
On September 1, 2020, iWant merged with TFC Online and was soft launched as iWantTFC. The service inherited the worldwide accessibility of TFC Online.[5] TFC IPTV and TFC Direct via cable and satellite subscribers have instant online access to iWantTFC with TFC Everywhere (TVE) feature.[6] They also made iWantTFC's full library accessible for free for users in the Philippines.[7][8]
On April 26, 2023, ABS-CBN announced a collaboration with GMA Network to stream the latter's international channels and local programs on iWantTFC starting May 1 for users outside of the Philippines.[9][10]
Return to iWant (2025–present)[]
In June 2025, iWantTFC will relaunch to its 2018 counterpart iWant with a new interface and features.[11]
References[]
- ↑ Mendoza, Arvin. "IN PHOTOS: Kim Chiu, Xian Lim star in 'Must Date the Playboy'", Inquirer.net, September 2, 2017.
- ↑ "ABS-CBN partners with PLDT to offer iWant TV", BusinessWorld Online, September 27, 2016.
- ↑ "ABS-CBN's IWant goes live on mobile, desktop ahead of launch", ABS-CBN News, November 16, 2018.
- ↑ "ABS-CBN to launch new streaming service iWant", ABS-CBN News, October 4, 2018.
- ↑ "iWant to merge with TFC Online", ABS-CBN News, August 24, 2020.
- ↑ "Get the convenience of watching anytime, anywhere with TFC Everywhere!", iWantTFC.
- ↑ iWant TFC libre na para sa lahat ng users sa Pilipinas (tl) (2021-06-30).
- ↑ iWantTFC, libre na ang advance teleserye episodes, originals, at 1,000 movies sa Pilipinas.
- ↑ GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, and GMA News TV on iWantTFC in select regions starting May 1.
- ↑ GMA to stream shows in ABS-CBN's iWantTFC.
- ↑ Liwag, Yzabelle. "iWant to launch new face, features in June", ABS-CBN News, May 5, 2025.