ABS-CBN, the country’s largest multimedia company, is training most of its resources on producing more engaging and interesting content as it charts its future.
In his speech during the Media Specialists Association of the Philippines (MSAP) 2015 Media Congress, ABS-CBN chairman Eugenio Lopez III said that while technologies change and the future of media is unknown, ABS-CBN will strengthen its focus on what it does best.
“Good content will remain to be the drivers of media consumption and choice. That is why at ABS-CBN, we are determined to keep content creation at the core of our business,” he said.
According to Lopez, ABS-CBN has invested a lot into research to gain valuable insights and understanding of Filipino content users.
“Our deep research into their emotional and intellectual needs has helped us come up with shows that sustain high ratings for a much longer time,” he said. “Research plus our multimedia experience also help us succeed in developing content that travel across different platforms. The digital platform has allowed us to reach new publics, especially the millennials.”
This content is further enhanced by the introduction of innovations that ride on the latest technologies, such as digital TV.
Lopez said he expects this technology will become the next standard in the industry and that ABS-CBN, through its recently launched ABS-CBN TVplus, is at the forefront of a new era in TV broadcasting.
“We are grateful that Filipinos warmly welcomed our offering of free, clear digital signals that also bring new channels into the home,” he told participants of the event.
“Many of the users are experiencing some kind of time warp as they jump from the experience of blurry television to the age of crisp, digital transmission.”
In February this year, ABS-CBN launched ABS-CBN TVplus. With the ABS-CBN TV plus digital box, even an analog TV can now process digital TV signals for clear images and crisp sound. The company is selling the digital boxes at P2,500 each.
Lopez said ABS-CBN has embraced innovation throughout the years. It introduced television in 1953, and a string of other innovations in the decades that followed. More recently, ABS-CBN introduced iWant TV, a catch-up service available through the internet, and ABS-CBNmobile, which allows subscribers not only to watch their favorite shows, but also to enjoy exclusive videos and photos of their favorite Kapamilya stars.
These innovations, Lopez said, made him feel nostalgic and reminisce times of doubting and daring during ABS-CBN’s early years.
“Innovations require a lot of money. A lot of time, too,” he said. “There are many hurdles to overcome. And there will be no 100 percent guarantee of success. You know that if you fail, you have to answer to stockholders, your own employees, your clients, and ultimately your audience. Here at ABS-CBN, we try to create a culture that allows innovation to thrive, that allows you to fail without becoming a failure.”
Despite all the challenges, ABS-CBN has been blessed with success as they took leaps of faith in the past.
“We believe it’s a matter of duty to invest in radical change if you’re the country’s advocate of the media industry. We simply cannot ignore the global technology wave. We innovate or we die,” Lopez said.
During the MSAP 2015 Media Congress, Kapamilya stars also entertained the attendees. The Voice Kids winners Lyca Gairanod and Darlene Vibares, and The Voice Season 2 contestants Timmy Pavino and Daryl Ong gave a stirring performance. Teen idols Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo also sang a song. And popular talk show hosts Kris Aquino and Boy Abunda led a lively Q&A portion after Lopez’s talk.
