Filipino Media Giant ABS-CBN Charts Global Course, Betting on Universal Appeal of Love Stories and Family Dramas (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Naman Ramachandran After Korea, Philippines media giant ABS-CBN is positioning itself as the next potential purveyor of hit Asian entertainment, building on the international box office success of “Hello, Love, Again.” “What we want to export or highlight to the rest of the world is what makes the Filipinos great as a people,” says Kriz Gazmen, head of ABS-CBN Films. “We’re very big on our love stories.

We’re very proud of our love stories, and I think that’s a very good entry way for us to the global market.” The strategy appears to be working. “Hello, Love, Again” recently shattered records, becoming the first Filipino film to gross over PHP1 billion ($17 million) worldwide.

The film secured the widest international theatrical release for a Filipino production to date, reaching over 1,330 screens across 40 countries.

Its box office total now stands at $24 million as the rollout continues. “We have to stay true to what makes us unique as a culture,” says Carlo Katigbak, president and CEO of ABS-CBN Corporation. “The two things that have done very well for us traditionally have been romantic comedies and family stories.