ABS-CBN forays into Hollywood

MANILA, Philippines — Media and entertainment giant ABS-CBN Corp. is making its foray into Hollywood television production through a partnership with US film and TV outfit Electric Entertainment.

“This is a first of many strategic partnerships and collaborations with partners from all over the world and we are very thrilled that we are partnering with a formidable team, Electric Entertainment, to line produce the US series for them,” ABS-CBN head of international production and co-production division Ruel Bayani said.  

The series is a crime drama set in Cebu and will air in the US via cable company WGN America.

“We chose to partner with ABS-CBN because they have been so instrumental in the development of talent here both in front and behind the camera. I think they have the most experience and they have just been amazing partners. This is going to change the way people perceive the entertainment business in the Philippines,” Electric Entertainment chief executive officer and Filipino-American producer Dean Devlin said.

ABS-CBN said the series, which will be the network’s first foray into Hollywood television production, will start production in Cebu in November.
The company said the series is a welcome opportunity for Filipino talent as majority of the cast will be from the country.

ABS-CBN’s international co-production division has other partnerships and collaborations with other companies from all over Southeast Asia, the United States, and Europe.

ABS-CBN programs are currently present in over 50 territories all over the world, selling over 50,000 hours of content worldwide.

Last June, it signed a milestone deal with Phoenix Satellite Television, an entertainment group that offers channels with Mandarin and Cantonese-language content, allowing its popular movies to be shown in China for the first time.

The company also announced in April its entry in Turkey after signing a deal with content production company Limon Yapim for the adaptation of one of its crime suspense drama shows.

In March, Indonesian television network MNCTV began airing its own version of ABS-CBN’s noontime show “It’s Showtime.”

ABS-CBN is home to the Philippines’ top-rating TV programs, box-office films, and best-selling books and music. The company is rapidly transitioning into an agile digital company with a growing list of digital properties.