EasyTV creates alternative viewing experience

MANILA, Philippines — If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t have all the time in the world to channel-surf, but wants select and quality entertainment when you have the remote control, the EasyTV Super Digibox presents itself as an answer to your TV viewing needs.

EasyTV is a digital terrestrial television (DTT) service — the latest digital receiver in the market — with local free-to-air and international channels. It’s a product of Solar Digital Media Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of Solar Entertainment Corp., one of the largest content providers and channel operators in Southeast Asia.

“As viewing habits are changing with the times, we believe that EasyTV will also be a game-changer, not only in the viewing experience, but also in the digital media industry in the country,” said Wilson Tieng, president and CEO of Solar Entertainment Corp.

Viewers will have access to 15 local and international channels offering multi-genre programming — from general entertainment and kids, travel and lifestyle, to music and sports — via “one powerful super digibox.”

“It’s the best of both worlds,” said Rene Esguerra, COO of Solar Digital Media. “You have a select line-up of premium content, plus you get all the local free-to-air channels.”

Zoo Moo is the world’s first children’s channel devoted entirely to the animal world.

EasyTV was launched and made available to Metro Manila residents in May. Esguerra said, “We’re very happy because the (sales) performance has exceeded our expectations. The pick-up was very good and probably, it’s because it offers something very unique.”

The product has drawn comparisons with ABS-CBN’s TVplus which Esguerra himself has described as “very successful.” “What TVplus has been able to do was give very clear channels… Prior to that, if you were not a cable TV subscriber, malabo. You put up your antenna, swerte ka kung may makuha ka. With digital receivers, it’s either you get a signal or not, there’s no in-between,” he said. “What TVplus did prior to us launching, they were able to introduce people to the concept of getting your channels through DTT. We just took it a step further by offering premium content.”

EasyTV is being positioned as an alternative targeting the market “between those who have TVplus and those who have cable TV.” Esguerra explained, “We’re not going after cable operators, they have their own market; we’re not after TVplus, they have their own market. We’re creating an alternative. Those who want cheaper PayTV and those who want better than the free digital broadcast, we’re in that segment.”

Esguerra particularly takes pride in its carefully chosen premium and exclusive content. Aside from Solar entertainment networks ETC, Jack TV, Solar Sports, BTV and NBA Premium TV, EasyTV’s channel line-up includes MTVph, BOO, K Plus, Zoo Moo, Aniplus, Outdoor Channel, Gone Viral TV, Zee Sine, Shop TV and History channel.

From left: Aniplus offers Japanese animé and pop culture content; NBA Premium is an all-basketball channel; and Zee Sine features the best of Bollywood entertainment.

“Most of the time, you don’t get to watch all the channels on cable… We went through research and market feel, and we have determined that what we have right now is basically acceptable to majority of the televiewers,” Esguerra said.

He made special mention of K Plus, which is tagged as the “ultimate Korean entertainment channel.” According to him, “There’s been a keen interest in Korean content. Based on the research we’ve done, most of those who really want to watch good Korean telenovelas and entertainment, they want it in the original language… So, we didn’t dub the Korean dramas, we just provided subtitles.”

Asked why Korean content is a hit among Filipino viewers, the Solar executive said, “I think the way their stories are done, it’s very appealing to Filipinos, nakaka-relate tayo. (It’s) coupled with the fact that they put out very beautiful people onscreen but they’re not Americans, they’re not Caucasians, they’re Asians so, I think, we can relate more. I think that’s the secret of Korean movies and telenovelas, and the quality is very good.”

BOO, on the other hand, is a 24-hour Asian horror channel featuring psycho-thrillers and sub-genres such as horror-comedy and horror-action; Aniplus is for the Japanese animé fans; Zoo Moo is the world’s first children’s channel devoted to the Animal World; and Zee Sine is all about Bollywood.

“We’re really hoping that with (EasyTV), we will be changing the viewing habits of the Filipino people. Given the attention span of Filipinos, you have to give them good content na talaga, as some of them do not have the time to surf. We’re looking at adding more channels but we are very selective with the channels we want to air. What we want is what the people want,” said Esguerra.

Rene Esguerra, COO of Solar Digital Media (left) and Wilson Tieng, president and CEO of Solar Entertainment Corp., present the EasyTV Super Digibox

More importantly, he added, “It’s actually very cost-effective.”

The super digibox, which also functions as a media player, retails at P2,999 with P999 as the cost of the advanced subscription to the 15 channels for one year “which basically comes down to P83 a month,” he said.

EasyTV is currently available in Quezon City, Marikina, Taguig, Muntinlupa, Pasig, North Caloocan and East Antipolo, and will soon be available all over Metro Manila. For more details, visit www.easytv.ph or call Shop TV at 817-7000.

There are already inquiries on the availability of EasyTV to viewers from outside Metro Manila. Esguerra said, “Definitely (it’s going to happen). We have plans. But we don’t know yet (as to when). We want to perfect Metro Manila first before going to the provincial areas.”