PBA, PBL games to go "live" online streaming?

RP startup adds more Pinoy content to online video service
By Erwin Oliva
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 08:35am (Mla time) 10/02/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- Filipino startup Netvision Inc. said it is talking to more local companies that would help add to its growing library of local video content.

The company, which started operations in January 2007, is now making available Filipino on-demand movies, streaming video, and music.

Netvision is now negotiating to offer video streaming of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and the Philippine Basketball League games through its services, said Jim Morris Sarmiento, sales and marketing director of NetVision Inc.

Sarmiento said NetVision aims to have the PBA games "live" by October 2007.

NetVision has bagged the right to broadcast online the fight between Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao and Mexican fighter Antonio Barrera on Sunday (October 7, 9 a.m. in Manila), but the service is only limited to Middle East subscribers of the company, Sarmiento said.

Last April 2007, the company bagged the right to stream Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao's bout against Jorge Solis on the Internet.

The company said it sees a big market for online on-demand video for Filipino content abroad. It has about 8,000 registered users who have availed of its free service just barely a year after it started operations, said Axel Kornerup, president and CEO of Netvision Inc..

Sarmiento said that among the top subscribers of Netvision come from the United States, Australia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Meanwhile, the Netvision executive said the startup was also talking to music labels and independent producers who could now make their music videos available through the company’s music channel.

Netvision is now working on an all-Filipino music channel that will also provide an instant messaging system for people who are watching videos online.

The music channel is currently a free service, which also features indie bands.

"It is really for promotions," Sarmiento said, adding that Netvision is also planning to offer music downloads.

Netvision's business model involves a pay-per view and a subscription service to its video and live streaming content.

Netvision has partnered with Solar and Regal for more local content, mainly Filipino movies. It has also started adding two streaming channels from RPN 9 and Living Asia. Sarmiento said ABC5 will come on board soon.

There is an estimated 8 million Filipinos working overseas. The company is now working on breaking into the Indian and Chinese markets through a holdings firm established in Hong Kong, Kornerup disclosed in an earlier interview.