EARLIER this year, ABS-CBN signed a partnership deal with video-sharing giant YouTube to produce exclusive content. This co-production deal is the latest initiative of the Kapamilya channel to expand its digital content offerings and reach more audiences with the goal of serving more Filipinos on various platforms.
If you’re in the know, it is safe to assume that this pivot is ABS-CBN’s digital as a content company has been gaining traction following the non-renewal of its broadcast franchise in 2020.
Since the non-renewal, ABS-CBN has been streaming its live and on-demand shows via Kapamilya Online Live on YouTube. It also offers “Made for YouTube” entertainment, lifestyle and music shows, and ABS-CBN Superview, which offers free streaming of hit movies.
As a result, ABS-CBN Entertainment is the most subscribed (38 million subscribers) and most viewed (45 billion views) YouTube channel in Southeast Asia. It also remains dominant on Facebook, and continues to enjoy gains on its sites and its own over-the-top platform iWantTFC.
To further the partnership, ABS-CBN and YouTube recently launched How To Move On in 30 Days, the network’s first YouTube exclusive daily series which started streaming this month. It’s actually a cute and entertaining show that revolves around the story of Jen (Maris Racal), a vlogger in her 20s who suddenly gets dumped by her long-time boyfriend Jake (Albie Casiño). Jen’s heart breaks when she finds out that Jake cheated on her with Anastacia (Sachzna Laparan), a model and social-media influencer.
Jen struggles to cope with the break-up, gets drunk, and instantly goes viral on social media for causing a scene about her miserable situation, becoming known as “The Winarak Girl.” To help Jen move on, her best friends Anton (Kyo Quijano) and Sara (Jai Agpangan) convince her to download this ‘break app’—a navigation app that will give her a step-by-step guide and useful tips that will help her move on within 30 days.
Things will get complicated in Jen’s life when she is assigned as Jake’s handler and is tasked to accompany him out of town for his work projects. As she chronicles her exciting journey on her vlog, Jen bumps into a charming surfer named Franco (Carlo Aquino), who is also a professional boyfriend-for-hire. Jen will face a tough dilemma and will be forced to hire Franco as her fictitious boyfriend as she intends to fully heal from heartbreak.
Will Jen be able to completely move on within 30 days with the help of Franco and the ‘break app’?
Will Jen develop feelings for her fake boyfriend Franco? Directed by Benedict Mique and Roderick Lindayag, the series also stars John Lapus, John Arcilla, Sherry Lara, Phoemela Baranda, Poppert Bernadas, Hanie Harrar, Elyson De Dios, Rans Rifol, and James Bello.
This coproduction with YouTube is the latest initiative of ABS-CBN to expand its digital content offerings and reach younger audiences while continuing to serve more Filipinos on various platforms.