In less than two year’s, ABS-CBN Japan’s TFCko viewership reached to more than 15,000. More and more Filipinos and their Japanese kids and spouses are becoming addicted to the IPTV service – a grandfather competes for the remote with his brood; a mother makes TFCko her kid’s new nanny; a clique forgoes a regular night out to stay indoors for a TFCko screening; a store owner subscribes to TFCko to lure more customers; and a Japanese husband is caught watching a Tagalog program he doesn’t entirely understand but enjoys because of the sexy girls in it. What’s causing the TFCko craze?
Technology That Works for the Customer

For 14 years, Elizabeth Mazon Hosaka or Betchy has kept in touch with her sister in the Philippines just to find out what happened to her favorite ABS-CBN drama series. When she subscribed to TFCko, she realized how much she saved on long distance calls. She has also seen how TFCko helped her raise her daughter to learn Tagalog, the Philippine’s native language. Betchy says “naging yaya siya [TFCko] ng anak ko at saka Tagalog niya, hindi nawawala.” (TFCko has become my kid’s nanny and she never lost her Tagalog.)

Cecile Roquero who owns “Nanay’s Lugaw” (Mother’s Porridge), a restaurant near the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo has seen how TFCko worked for her family and her business. Her Japanese husband Aokisan need not know Tagalog to appreciate the 24 sexy dancers of TFCko’s Deal or No Deal. Cecile, on the other hand, uses TFCko to entertain her customers while she’s busy managing her servers and running the kitchen. She willingly gives in to some of her customers’ requests whenever there are. “Minsan, tulad po ngayon, may mga customer na nanghingi sila ng programa na gusto nila panoorin… pagka ganyan po ginagamit namin diyan ang Video-On-Demand (VOD).” (Sometimes, like now, customers would ask for a program that they would like to watch… in such case, we use Video-On-Demand.)

Like Cecile, Kristoper Lirio uses VOD, too. He is a highly technical guy who frequently uses the internet. He has been living in Japan for seven years, working day and night without any form of relaxation. When he learned about TFCko and its VOD feature he immediately subscribed to watch his favorite sports programs like the PBA, NCAA and UAAP, major basketball leagues in the Philippines. He said TFCko works for him not only because it has the shows he wants to see but also because “parang lang siyang DVD [player]. Play mo lang siya tapos i-stop mo kung may gagawin ka. Tapos balikan mo kaagad iyong shows mo. Wala kang mami-miss.” (It’s just like a DVD player. Play it then press stop if you need to do anything. You can go back to watching your shows right after. You won’t miss anything.)

Operating on Internet Protocol TV, TFCko gives viewers personal access to their favorite shows anytime. A TFCko subscriber can choose which program to watch and with a remote control, fast-forward, rewind and pause whenever he/she wants.
Technology That Binds a Family

Dondon Pascual who has been in Japan for 16 years cheerfully narrates that upon coming home from work, it has become a contest for everyone in his family to grab the remote. As head of the family, Dondon prefers to watch TV Patrol to be updated with what is happening in the Philippines but his wife, children and grandchildren have their own favorite shows. He says “bahagi na ng buhay namin ang TFCko” (TFCko has become a part of our lives.)
To Anjie Osonoi, a solo parent who has been away from home for 23 years finds a family in her closest friends. “One time na-invite ako ng mga barkada. May gimmick daw kami. Sabi ko, ‘saan?’ Sa bahay na lang daw. Then, pagdating ko doon... meron silang small kit na ginagawa. At sabi nila, ‘heto’ng bago nating gimmick... magluluto na lang tayo then kumain habang nanonood tayo ng TFCko’.” (One time, I was invited by my friends to a night out. I asked where and they said it will just be at someone’s house. When I arrived, they were setting up a small kit. They told me it’s the new night out… we’ll cook then eat while watching TFCko.) Anji adds that as a working mom who is miles away from her parents and siblings, working hard while taking care of her son can be so draining, physically and emotionally. She reveals, “higit sa lahat, nakakalungkot kasi maaalala mo ang mga mahal mo” (More than anything, it can be so sad because you tend to remember those you love.) But with TFCko she feels at home, “parang kasama ko pamilya ko manood [ng TFCko].” (It feels like I’m watching TFCko with my family.)
Technology That Evolves and Sets The Pace

Prior to TFCko, the international broadcast company ABS-CBN Global has for several years been responding to the needs of Filipinos not just in Japan but also in the US, Middle East, Europe, Australia and other countries in Asia-Pacific. In April 1994, ABS-CBN Global launched The Filipino Channel (TFC) in North America. From just one signal, TFC quadrupled its signals to suit the time zones of its customers from other continents.
Now with TFCko, ABS-CBN may just revolutionize the way viewers use television and radio. No one has to have or like TFCko to be a witness to the impending commotion in the broadcast communication business because of it.

As for Betchy, Cecile, Kristoper, Dondon and Anjie, they could almost say in unison “Sulit ang TFCko at di ko ito papalitan! TFCko ’to e. (TFCko is worth it and I won’t trade it for anything! This is my TFCko.)”