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.
History
ABS-CBNnow! (2003–2010)
iWantTFC 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 MTB, The Buzz, and Magandang Gabi... Bayan) anywhere in the world using a PC with high-speed Internet or broadband connection.[3] 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.[4]
iWant TV (2010–2018)
From its launch until 2015, iWant TV had foreign contents from many pan-regional television channels including National Geographic, the Food Network, E!, 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.[5]
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.[6]
As iWant (2018–2020)
iWant logo used from November 2018 to August 2020
On November 16, 2018, the service officially relaunched as iWant, which now emphasizes on adding original content similar to Netflix and Iflix.[7] It featured Spirits: Reawaken (a reboot of the original television series), Quezon's Game, and Alamat ng Ano.[8]Glorious and MA were the first two iWant original films.
As iWantTFC (2020–present)
On September 1, 2020, iWant merged with TFC Online and was soft launched as iWantTFC. The service inherited the worldwide accessibility of TFC Online.[9]TFC IPTV and TFC Direct via cable and satellite subscribers have instant online access to iWantTFC with TFC Everywhere (TVE) feature.[10] They also made iWantTFC's full library accessible for free for users in the Philippines.[11][12]
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.[13][14]
iWantTFC 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 iWantTFC.
