Christy Balita
Research expert covering the Philippines
Streaming in the Philippines - statistics & facts
2020 saw a boom in streaming in the Philippines as movie theaters and cinemas were completely shut down due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In a country with the longest imposed lockdown, most Filipinos relied heavily on in-home entertainment to cope with cabin fever. During this period, surveyed Filipinos said streaming videos and music were among their leading online activities. Even after restrictions were lifted, Filipinos continued to use subscription video-on-demand (SVoD) services, gaining the highest monthly share of users in the Asia-Pacific region.
Streaming has become a popular online activity for Filipino viewers, may it be video, music, or gaming. While the popularity of platforms may change over time, the appetite for streaming content in the country is more likely to continue growing.
Netflix dominates video streaming platforms
Netflix’s dominance in the world market of subscription-based video streaming has also taken its course in the Philippines. While cable channels still have a large share of viewers, Filipino audiences have increasingly turned to video streaming platforms that offer more content variety, often ad-free. The flexibility of watching video content also appealed to them in comparison to the scheduled broadcasts of TV channels. As of April 2023, the Philippines had one of the lowest monthly basic prices for a basic Netflix subscription in the region, while having the largest library size. Besides Netflix, the Malaysian video-on-demand service iFlix, which offers content from Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam, held a significant market share. Other global streaming service providers, such as Amazon Prime Video and HBO Go, were also popular among Filipino viewers.Local streaming platforms capturing audiences in and outside the Philippines
Local streaming platforms also filled the growing appetite of Filipinos for online video content. ABS-CBN Corporation, which lost its television franchise in 2020, started streaming its regular programs and shows on its over-the-top (OTT) content platform, iWantTFC. It offers selected titles for free, with ads, and several subscription plans. It also offers a subscription bundle that allows subscribers outside the Philippines to watch shows and on-demand programs of another media company, the GMA Network. This TV network has also tapped the Chinese streaming platform iQiyi to stream its programs and shows since 2021.The state of music and game streaming
Filipinos also consumed audio content regularly, especially music and podcasts. In 2023, Spotify was by far the most downloaded music service and playing app on both Google Play and the Apple Store. The music streaming market in the Philippines was estimated to reflect growth in the following years, along with its estimated number of users. Meanwhile, game streaming has also started gaining momentum as a way to connect with fellow gaming enthusiasts and as a possible revenue-generating hobby. Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch were among the leading platforms for game streaming.Streaming has become a popular online activity for Filipino viewers, may it be video, music, or gaming. While the popularity of platforms may change over time, the appetite for streaming content in the country is more likely to continue growing.
