Globe to Bring in More Content for Movie-Loving Filipinos

Globe is bringing in more content for movie-loving Filipinos who have been forced to stay at home due to strict mobility and quarantine restrictions put in place to slow the spread of Covid-19 infections.

In a virtual interview with Media Partners Asia Executive Director Vivek Couto during the APOS media conference, Globe President and CEO Ernest L. Cu said the telco is working on filling the gap felt by Filipinos when cinemas closed last year due to the pandemic.

“Even when they reopen, one cannot be sure whether the public will go back since they might expose themselves (to the virus) in cinemas,” Cu said.

According to Cu, Globe, through GMovies in partnership with UPSTREAM, will showcase foreign titles on the platform. This way, foreign studios can go directly to the consumer and use the platform to distribute movies similar to what other studios in the United States are now doing.

One of the first initiatives that Globe had was to partner with the newest Video on Demand platform UPSTREAM which offers a diverse catalog of content. Through UPSTREAM, GMovies users can select curated titles from local to foreign studios.

This partnership opened new possibilities for the consumer to gain access to a wider library of local films such as the successful 46th Metro Manila Film Festival.

“I think for a first year effort, it wasn't so bad. We even got a new market into watching these videos, which is the overseas Filipinos market,” Cu said.

Globe launched GMovies to redefine the movie-watching habits of Filipinos by enabling the ease and convenience of ticket purchasing. The mobile app and website platform is the partner of over 100 cinema locations nationwide, offering seamless and instant book-and-buy experiences, and third-party streaming service providers such as UPSTREAM, for an all-digital, exclusive entertainment.

Meanwhile, Globe continues to enhance the experience of customers by improving its content portfolio including Amazon Prime Video, HBO GO, and VIU. “We're continuing to bring these types of services and give the Filipinos more variety in terms of what they can view online,” he said.

Aside from movies and TV shows, Globe also partnered with 88rising mid last year to launch PARADISE RISING that serves as a platform to establish a presence for Filipino artists around the world through music distribution, music rights management, and artists development.

Cu said the founder of 88rising, Sean Miyashiro, is very much involved in bringing about the label and is excited about Filipino talents. The label has already signed up a couple of very good artists lately, Guapdad 4000 and Ylona Garcia, as part of Globe’s quest to bring Filipino artists to the world stage.