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IWant
Philippine over-the-top content platform From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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iWant (stylized in lowercase; formerly known as iWant TV and iWantTFC)[b] is a Filipino over-the-top media service and production company owned and operated by ABS-CBN Digital Media, a division of ABS-CBN Corporation. It was formed in 2020 through the merger of two streaming services the original incarnation of iWant and TFC Online. In addition to offering on-demand contents of ABS-CBN, iWant also live streams linear channels including Kapamilya Channel, DZMM TeleRadyo, ANC (premium), Knowledge Channel, MOR Entertainment and Myx.
The service is available worldwide, primarily catering to Filipino audiences.[2] It is also the replacement for Sky On Demand of Sky Cable since September 1, 2020. On May 7, 2025, it was announced that the iWant branding would return;[3] the platform became iWant again on July 9, 2025.[4]
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ABS-CBNnow!
iWant 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, Morning Girls, MTB, Maalaala Mo Kaya, Wansapanataym, The Buzz, and Magandang Gabi... Bayan) anywhere in the world using a PC with high-speed Internet or broadband connection.[5] 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. In October 2005, there were 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 other Asian countries.[6]
iWant TV
From its launch until 2015, iWant TV had foreign contents from many pan-regional television channels including National Geographic, FYI, History, Nickelodeon, E!, the Food Network, Asian Food Channel, Travel Channel, 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.[7]
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.[8]
Original iWant branding
On November 16, 2018, the service officially relaunched as iWant, which now emphasizes on adding original content similar to Netflix, Viu, Hooq and iflix.[9] It featured Spirits: Reawaken (a reboot of the original television series), Quezon's Game, and Alamat ng Ano.[10] Glorious and MA were the first two iWant original films.
Rebrand as iWantTFC
On September 1, 2020, iWant merged with TFC Online and was soft launched as iWantTFC. The service inherited the worldwide accessibility of TFC Online.[11] TFC IPTV and TFC Direct via cable and satellite subscribers have instant online access to iWantTFC with TFC Everywhere (TVE) feature.[12] They also made iWantTFC's full library accessible for free for users in the Philippines.[13][14]
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.[15][16]
Return to iWant branding
On May 7, 2025, ABS-CBN announced that the service would relaunch as its 2018 counterpart, reverting its name to iWant, with a new interface and features.[17][18] It was originally scheduled to launch in June 2025 but was later launched on July 9, 2025.[19]
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Content
iWant stores over 10,000 hours of content and programs, over 1,000 films and television series, and several live on-demand channels and video-on-demand. Most of its contents and films are produced by ABS-CBN Corporation's divisions including ABS-CBN Studios and ABS-CBN Films. In addition, there are over 20 original films and over 50 original series produced by iWant.
The platform also provides live streams of several of ABS-CBN's broadcast properties, some operated by ABS-CBN's subsidiaries Creative Programs and ABS-CBN International. Kapamilya Channel, DZMM TeleRadyo, and Knowledge Channel are exclusively available in the Philippines; while The Filipino Channel, ANC Global, DZMM TeleRadyo Global, Cinema One Global, Cine Mo! Global, MOR Entertainment and Myx America (North America only) are available outside of the Philippines.[citation needed]
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