ABS-CBN tempts viewers with free trials of new TVPlus channels

ABS-CBN TVPlus has announced the introduction of five new channels into its line-up including an all-new Asianovela channel which will feature Asian TV series.

“We believe that every Filipino should be given the opportunity to enjoy quality content at home, Our five new exclusive channels... ring true to our core mission to deliver more quality and exciting choices to [our viewers],” Chinky de Castro-Alcedo, head of ABSCBN digital terrestrial television, said in a press release.

The five channels are: Movie Central, an all-English movie channel featuring international films; Jeepney TV, which airs classic and currently airing ABS-CBN shows; MYX, a music channel; Asianovela Channel, featuring Filipino-dubbed and uncut Asian TV series; and O Shopping, a home TV shopping network.

Of the five channels, only O Shopping will remain permanently free of charge while the four others will be on free trial until Dec. 31. “We still haven’t hammered down the payment scheme for these channels after Dec. 31 but viewers with TVPlus can enjoy it while it’s on free trial,” Alvin Ebrada, TVPlus product manager, told BusinessWorld shortly after the launch on July 30 in ABS-CBN, Quezon City.

This isn’t the first time the company given free trials of channels before they are offered on a pay-per-view scheme: KBO (Kapamilya Box Office) was offered to new TVPlus customers in 2016 when they could access the channel for four weekends (Saturday and Sunday) and watch four films — three local titles and one foreign title — as well as catch-up with the network’s prime time series Dolce Amore.

After the free trial, access to KBO was priced at P30/ day.

The five new channels were rolled out in Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, and Metro Cebu and TVPlus customers need to re-scan their devices to gain access to the new channels.

TVPlus was first introduced in 2015 promising “clear picture and crisp sound without any monthly and installation fee,” as it only required a one-time payment of P1,499. As of July, ABS-CBN reported that there are 5.5 million TVPlus boxes in circulation with a goal of increasing this to 6.2 million by end-2018.

Despite the introduction of premium (though currently free) channels, Mr. Ebrada said they don’t believe they are competing with another ABSCBN product, SkyCable, as both products serve different markets with TVPlus serving the CD market segment while SkyCable is caters to a higher segment of the market.

“They have different offering because the two cater to different markets. What we’re giving our customers is the power to choose a service that would fit their needs. The viewers get to choose what they want to watch,” he said. —