Got to Believe, Against All Odds (Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala) Make Waves Internationally

Two of ABS-CBN’s top-rating dramas, the light romantic-comedy “Got to Believe” and action-suspense-drama “Against All Odds’ (“Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala”) received overwhelming response from participants of the annual Asian Television Forum (ATF) held in Marina Bay Sands, Singapore last December 2013. 

ABS-CBN Corporation, the Philippines’ largest multimedia conglomerate, through its International Distribution Division, proudly showcased the two new dramas that will surely give avid viewers of Filipino soap operas worldwide a whole new viewing experience this 2014.

According to ABS-CBN Head of International Distribution Leng Raymundo, Got to Believe and Against All Odds are attracting a lot of markets across Asia and Africa together with Be Careful with my Heart. 

As of January 2014, Against All Odds (Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala) topbilled by Philippines television’s ‘Queen of Filipino Soap Operas’ Judy Ann Santos, was already sold to Malaysia, Cambodia and Vietnam. 

The series captivated buyers with its brave and compelling storyline about the journey of Anessa, who mirrors the plight of women who are victims of domestic violence. It created a buzz in the Philippines as the first “advocacy-series” as the soap specifically tackles and advocates women’s rights.

Got to Believe, meanwhile, also received numerous inquiries and negotiations are still in the works. It stars the Philippines most sought-after teen stars and on-screen tandem, Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, who portray young lovers Chichay (Bernardo) and Joaquin (Padilla) who experience the magic of love for the first time despite their differences and despite their awkward start— Chichay being the nanny of the shy and stubborn rich kid Joaquin.

Against All Odds and Got To Believe are among the many Filipino dramas made available to international viewers by ABS-CBN International Distribution, a premier source of high quality Filipino programming in over 50 territories all over the world. It has sold over 30,000 hours of high-caliber content worldwide with cast and storylines appealing to various cultures. 

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Ina Kapatid Anak Airs Abroad with International Title 'Her Mother's Daughter'

Almost half of the total Philippine population tuned in to the intense finale of “Her Mother’s Daughter” (“Ina Kapatid Anak) last June 14 as the phenomenal hit primetime series that aired on the Philippines biggest TV network, ABS-CBN, hit an average national TV rating of 42.9 % and an average audience share of 62.6%, according to global audience research group Kantar Media.

The show also dominated the list of most watched programs in the Philippines during its final telecast, and dominated the Twitterverse as well, after various hashtags related to the program trended worldwide on the popular micro-blogging site.

Many Filipinos followed the family drama “Her Mother’s Daughter” (“Ina Kapatid Anak”), topbilled by premier and sought-after Filipina actresses Kim Chiu and Maja Salvador, due to its captivating plot and controversial take on surrogacy. It also centered on the family, which is very dear to the family-oriented Filipino audience. Its success comes close at the heels of ABS-CBN’s phenomenal drama toprater “My Eternal” (“Walang Hanggan”) which dominated the TV landscape in 2012.

“Her Mother’s Daughter” (“Ina Kapatid Anak”) tells the story of Celyn (Chiu) and Margaux (Salvador), two different women who grew up living two very different lives. Celyn was raised in an impoverished family in a province, while Margaux had the life of a princess as the heiress of the country’s biggest shoe company.

They are fated to become the best of friends but only until a well-kept secret from the past is revealed—Celyn is Margaux’s adoptive parents long lost daughter through a surrogate that took her away. Rivalry ensues between the two and they will fight over everything from status, to family, and even love.

“Her Mother’s Daughter” (“Ina Kapatid Anak”) aired weeknights on Philippine television via ABS-CBN, the Philippines’ largest multimedia conglomerate and Filipino master of world-class dramas.

The series will soon air on other countries worldwide via the efforts of ABS-CBN International Distribution, a business unit of ABS-CBN that 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 high-caliber programs and movies with universal storylines and showcase a mixture of distinct facial features ranging from Asian to Hispanic with infusion of multicultural context.

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Angel Locsin and Piolo Pascual's 'Lobo' is First Philippine Series to Air on Thailand Television

ABS-CBN’s canned programs have successfully penetrated territories in Asia, Europe, and Africa. Its most recent addition is Thailand where one of its top-rating drama series, “Lobo” (“She Wolf: the Last Sentinel”) will soon debut as the first Philippine TV program to air on Thai television.

ABS-CBN International Distribution head Leng Raymundo said Philippine TV series, particularly ABS-CBN’s drama series, have been widely received and distinctively known for their cast’s international appeal, series length that adapts well to programmers’ needs, and content with a universal appeal that people can relate to.

Read: Cambodia to Remake ABS-CBN's Pangako Sa 'Yo, a Milestone in Philippine Broadcast History

“The global viewers recognize and demand for ABS-CBN programs as they remain true to local cultural sensitivities. It has a definite global appeal, heart warming relatable stories that have high production values, and good-looking actors that cross borders,” Raymundo said.

ABS-CBN programs, mostly in drama formats, have been dubbed in English, Khmer, Mandarin, Bahasa Melayu, Vietnamese, Turkish, Russian, and French.  They have also been subtitled in Bahasa Melayu and Romanian.

“Tayong Dalawa” (“The Two of Us”) also made history as the first Filipino program in Singapore’s telenovela belt while “Sana’y Wala ng Wakas” (“Timeless”), which is topbilled by Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa, was so well received by viewers in Malaysia that it even rated higher than hit US series “Smallville.”

Among French-speaking territories, ABS-CBN’s “Magkaribal” (“Rivals”) dubbed in French is steadily gaining viewers. ABS-CBN International Distribution was also the first to distribute content in Myanmar, when “My Girl” premiered in 2011.

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Cambodia to Remake ABS-CBN's Pangako Sa 'Yo, a Milestone in Philippine Broadcast History

The Philippines’ most successfully distributed canned TV series worldwide, “Pangako sa ’Yo” (“The Promise”), will soon be localized in Cambodia after Cambodian Television Network (CTN) bought its format from ABS-CBN, the Philippines’ leading and largest multimedia conglomerate.

“Pangako sa ’Yo,” produced by ABS-CBN in 2000, is one of the network’s top-raters of all time, headlined by premiere Filipino actors Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa as Angelo (Rosales) and Yna (Hermosa).  The main characters will soon have their Cambodian counterparts as CTN targets to start production by the first quarter of 2013.

The adaptation of “Pangako sa ’Yo” in Cambodia marks a milestone in Philippine broadcasting history, particularly for ABS-CBN that is known as the Philippine leader in producing world-class TV drama series. ABS-CBN now joins the ranks of the world’s most competitive content suppliers with this format buy.

The landmark deal between ABS-CBN and CTN was made possible by ABS-CBN’s International Distribution Division, which to date has sold over 30,000 hours of content, making it available to over 50 territories worldwide.

ABS-CBN International Distribution head Leng Raymundo said the content ABS-CBN shows appeals to viewers from different parts of the world as more and more dealers express interest and acquire the network’s various canned programs.

She added that the success of these international runs have turned some of the Filipino actors and actresses into celebrities in other countries.  Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa now have foreign fans from different countries after their series “Pangako sa ’Yo” was distributed in over 20 territories since 2002. The show was aired onChina’s national television and rated second in overall local and foreign programs airing in the country.

Rosales recounted during one of his trips to Ghana how he was overwhelmingly received by his African fans. He was caught off guard and was so surprised that they would want to have their photos taken with him and would even call him by his character name. He was widely recognized in the territory that he didn’t get to leave his hotel room for security purposes.

With its growing recognition in the global media distribution landscape, ABS-CBN International Distribution further expands its line-up of high-caliber programs and movies and offers them to more territories in the world.

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