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| (Image Source: TrillerTV) |
Global online sports and entertainment streaming platform FITE is proud to announce its rebranding as TrillerTV, signaling the continuing addition of new sports categories and closer alignment with parent company Triller. The PPV platform, subscription channel, and FAST channel will all continue to deliver the same incredible action with the same reputation for quality, reliability, and innovation. Now, the massive reach and resources of Triller will power FITE's continued growth through acquisitions and major sports rights licensing deals.
"TrillerTV is everything you know and trust from FITE, but with doors open for even more sports. Our original name served us well, as have our loyal customers, promoters, and athletes to whom we are super grateful. The time has come to give even more to expand the experience we've built from the ground up to celebrate the passion and precision that makes us all love sports," said TrillerTV Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer Michael Weber. Founded in 2015 using pioneering and proprietary AI tools utilized by its hard-driving team of sports fanatics to enhance the viewer experience, FITE has grown to serve 8 million registered users around the world and present blockbuster events with the biggest names in their fields. Through the rebranding, the premium live and on-demand subscription service FITE+ and FAST (Free Ad-Supported Television) channel FITE 24/7 are now renamed TrillerTV+ and TrillerTV 24/7, respectively, while All Elite Wrestling (AEW)'s global premium service AEW Plus keeps its name. Both TrillerTV+ and AEW Plus have newly enabled geo-tagged pricing, increasing their value proposition for international audiences.
"Now that we've proven FITE in 10s of thousands of live events from all over the world, it's time to expand to more content verticals under our new brand TrillerTV. We will be adding new sports categories, more premium brand promotions, and continuing to improve our technology to give the best user experience in streaming sports and entertainment," said TrillerTV Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kosta Jordanov. TrillerTV CEO Mahi de Silva added, "We are thrilled to realize one of the core objectives of the acquisition of FITE. The launch of TrillerTV is the culmination of the strategy of expansion from their combat sports roots to broader sports content and even broader entertainment verticals across the globe. TrillerTV is a great example of Triller's open-garden approach of delivering high quality entertainment on every platform; mobile phones, PCs, streaming devices, set-top-boxes and gaming consoles."
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ABS-CBN Receives Inaugural Asian Academy Of Creative Arts Legacy Award
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| (Image Source: ABS-CBN Corporation) |
ABS-CBN, the Philippines' premiere media and entertainment company and leading content provider, was given the first-ever Asian Academy of Creative Arts Legacy Award at the Asian Academy Creative Awards (AAA) Gala 2023 held at the Chijmes Hall in Singapore on December 7, 2023. Head of ABS-CBN International Productions Ruel S. Bayani received the award on behalf of the company and thanked the men and women of ABS-CBN, local and international partners, advertisers, and Kapamilyas all over the world.
Direk Ruel stated, “Our story is far from over. We shall continue to champion Filipino talent on the global stage and mentor the next generations of global storytellers. ABS-CBN as an organization has survived the most seemingly insurmountable obstacles and challenges. At the heart of its 70 year history as a company is our shared character. They say that character is destiny and hopefully this same character will be ABS-CBN's enduring legacy. “In 2020, ABS-CBN's government license was not renewed and was forced off-air, that's where their story could've ended but it didn't. They pivoted, forged partnerships, and became a major content producer,” said 2023 AACA Chairman and Warner Bros. Discovery President and Managing Director for India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Korea Clement Schwebig during the presentation of ABS-CBN’s award.
The Asian Academy Creative Awards, which is organized by the Asian Academy of Creative Arts, honors exellence across multiple platforms including television, feature films, digital, mobile, streaming, and any other technologies in the entire Asia Pacific region. Aside from ABS-CBN, CNN Philippines' Rico Hizon and Manila Luzon achieved significant milestones for the Philippines as they beat National Winners from different countries across the region to be bestowed as Best Factual Presenter and Best Entertainment Host, respectively.
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Prime Video Reveals Cast, Teases "Drag Den With Manila Luzon Season 2: Retribution"
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| (Image Source: Daily Tribune/Prime Video Philippines) |
Prime Video revealed the much-anticipated cast of "Drag Den With Manila Luzon Season Two: Retribution". The new season of the hit Filipino reality drag competition marks the global streamer’s very first local show renewal in Southeast Asia. The new season — showcasing a fresh batch of queens — promises to be even bigger, with a new den, a new set of rules, and a new roster of judges. Consisting of eight episodes, it will be launching exclusively on Prime Video in the Philippines and more than 240 countries and territories worldwide on January 18, 2024 with a new episode every week.
This season’s 10 new queens (up from Season One’s eight) Deja, Margaux Rita, Elvira B, Feyvah Fatalé, Maria Lava, Mrs. Tan, Moi, Marlyn, Jean Vogue, and Russia Fox vie to be crowned the new “Drag Supreme”. “Drag Lord” Manila Luzon, host and executive producer, returns with Nicole Cordoves and Sassa Gurl as the show’s “Drag Dealer” and “Drag Runner", respectively. The series' first season has had a successful eight-episode run, culminating in an epic finale last January 26, 2023 with NAIA Black crowned as its first "Drag Supreme". Drag Den With Manila Luzon Season Two: Retribution is produced by CS Studios, series creator and director Rod Singh, and Antoinette Jadaone of Project 8 Projects.
Drag Den With Manila Luzon is streaming on Prime Video along with hundreds of other shows and films available in the Prime Video catalog such as Roadkillers, Linlang, Takeshi’s Castle Philippines, Comedy Island Philippines, Fit Check: Confessions of an Ukay Queen, Cattleya Killer, Deleter, Ten Little Mistresses, BTS: Yet to Come, Jinny’s Kitchen, The Kidnapping Day, The Killing Vote, and Rurouni Kenshin among others on top of popular and critically acclaimed Amazon Originals Gen V, The Continental, Citadel, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, The Boys, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, and Emmy and Golden Globe winners Fleabag and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Prime Video subscribers are able to watch films and shows anywhere and anytime on hundreds of compatible devices. In the Prime Video app, subscribers can also download episodes on their mobile devices and tablets and watch anywhere offline at no additional cost. Prime Video is available in the Philippines via primevideo.com, Google Play, Apple App Store and Microsoft Store for just Php149 per month.
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ABS-CBN Global Announces Jun Del Rosario As New Chief Operating Officer
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| Jun Del Rosario, ABS-CBN Global's new Chief Operating Officer (Image Source: ABS-CBN Corporation) |
ABS-CBN, a content producer and distributor in the Philippines, has announced the appointment of Rolando “Jun” Del Rosario, Jr. as the new Chief Operating Officer (COO) of ABS-CBN Global Ltd., effective January 1, 2024. He steps into the new role starting next year following the early retirement of current and outgoing ABS-CBN Global COO Aldrin M. Cerrado which takes effect on December 31, 2023. Del Rosario’s new post will be concurrent to his role as the Managing Director of ABS-CBN International (North and Latin America).
As the new global group COO, Del Rosario will oversee all of ABS-CBN’s international subsidiaries and manage its global flagship brand, The Filipino Channel (TFC). He will lead ABS-CBN’s global group in achieving its objective to deliver meaningful and inspiring stories and to showcase world-class Filipino talent across multiple platforms and through events for both Filipino and international audiences. Del Rosario earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the distinguished Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines and took up his Executive MBA Course at the Asian Institute of Management.
Del Rosario is bringing to his new post over 30 years of experience in the media industry. Starting as an entrepreneur who has built his own cable company in the Philippines, Del Rosario moved to holding senior management positions in the ABS-CBN group of companies. He joined ABS-CBN International in 2004 as Product Manager and became the Director for the Cable and Satellite business in 2005. From 2010 to 2018, he became North America Regional Head of Marketing, then concurrent Global Head of Carriage and Country Manager for Canada. Later in 2018, he became the Managing Director of North and Latin America, leading strategy executions, business operations and profitability for the region.
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Alden Richards, Michelle Dee, Beks Battalion Bring Joy To OFWs In "Pinoy Christmas In Our Hearts Year 2"
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| (Image Source: GMA Network) |
Following its success in 2022, GMA Public Affairs and YouTube are teaming up anew for the second year of "Pinoy Christmas in Our Hearts", an online digital series that showcases heartwarming holiday stories of Filipinos — featuring Asia's Multimedia Star Alden Richards, YouTube vlogger Beks Batallion, and Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee. YouTube content creator Beks Battalion joins Alden and Michelle in bringing joy to the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) by giving them a chance to experience the unique Christmas tradition in the Philippines.
Alden is set to make a fan's holiday season extra special this year. Abigail Gallosa, an OFW from Hong Kong, has been away from her family for almost five years to support her sister and mother in Cebu. To cope with her homesickness, she finds joy in being a fan of Alden. As her contract ends, she will finally have the opportunity to surprise her sister and mother by spending the holidays with them. But, as a special treat, Alden will surprise Abigail with a 'holi-date' in the Christmas Capital of the Philippines – Pampanga. Together, they will create traditional fish lanterns and listen to the parish choir singing Pastorela. Beks Batallion will likewise spread love and joy to a hardworking local of Siargao. Mariel Larsen, a Pinay fruit-picker and vlogger, has been away from her parents in Siargao for almost six years during Christmas. She has been working hard in the vast farms of Australia while living in a camper van for years with her Australian husband David and their four-year-old son. However, Mariel has a surprise for her parents and family in Siargao — she and her family will fly home to spend the holidays on the island. To add to the surprise, Beks Battalion will be helping them build a giant Belen in Tarlac for the annual Belenismo event.
Finally, Michelle will surely paint a smile to a teenager's face through a simple yet meaningful present. Sire Garcia, a sixteen-year-old boy, has a keen interest in Science and Robotics which he inherited from his father Jervin. Jervin worked as an OFW in Saudi Arabia for almost twelve years. Sire was overjoyed when his father returned home on November 14, but unfortunately, Jervin had to go back abroad earlier than expected. To make up for his early departure, Jervin arranged for Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee to take Sire and his siblings on an adventure-filled day as an early Christmas gift. Relive the warmth of Christmas with 'Pinoy Christmas in Our Hearts Year 2' presented by GMA Public Affairs and YouTube, exclusively on the GMA Public Affairs' official YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/gmapublicaffairs.
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Reverb Worship PH, Star Music Kick Off Joyful Christmas Celebration With "Biyaya Ng Pasko"
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| (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/ABS-CBN Corporation) |
Christmas came early with Reverb Worship PH and Star Music’s newest holiday anthem, "Biyaya Ng Pasko" — out now on Star Music’s YouTube channel as well as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other available digital music streaming platforms worldwide! Time marches on, we age and we grow, yet back to Paskong Pinoy our hearts always flow. Biyaya Ng Pasko is an invitation to relive our favorite Christmas memories, appreciate this year’s blessings, and celebrate God’s gift of hope, joy, and peace.
Veteran and rising artists from Reverb Worship and Star Music join forces to breathe life into this holiday masterpiece such as Erik Santos, Jonathan Manalo, Angela Ken, Trisha Denise, Cesca, Khimo Gumatay, N. Arnel De Pano, Carla Martinez, Tricia Amper-Jimenez, Reuben Laurente, Dennis and Charmaine Campañer, James Reyes, JDP Jack D’Preacher, Ava Canaceli, Rhea Rodriguez, Shekinah Gram, Ivy Catucod, Joseph Manalo, Faith Manalo, Basti Santos, Hugo Zaccheo Funtanares, Zia Layug, and Rei Tacsay. Biyaya ng Pasko is penned and produced by critically acclaimed songwriter and ABS-CBN Music Creative Director Jonathan Manalo. “I am so grateful to have been given the trust of CBN Asia’s Reverb Worship to write another Christmas song after 'Dahilan Ng Maligayang Pasko' in 2021,” Manalo recalled.
The composer also shared that the new song "Biyaya Ng Pasko" was inspired by the vision of CBN Asia's Head of Special Projects Department Icko Gonzalez, saying, “He encouraged me to write a song that tells about God’s faithfulness and how God’s promise remains the same from generation to generation. It is also about passing on our faith for generations to come.” CBN Asia’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer John Valdes Tan invites listeners to revisit the spirit of Christmas with this heartwarming single. “Biyaya Ng Pasko reminds us why Filipinos love Christmas. In this song, we celebrate our love with friends, family members, and God — who gives life to all our relationships. Biyaya Ng Pasko is Reverb Worship and Star Music’s gift to all our faithful partners and supporters. May the joy and love of Christmas be upon us all,” said Tan.
