Shavkat Berdiev
The toughest challenge in creating programming for cable TV these days is still piracy, according to Shavkat Berdiev, Discovery Networks Asia Pacific’s vice president and general manager.
“Piracy remains a scourge for the media industry across the world, and in the Philippines, it’s no different,” Berdiev told the Inquirer in an e-mail interview.
“On one hand, it will take better enforcement and public education. On the other hand, content creators need to band together to tap into all avenues and platforms of legally sharing what they create with audiences.”
Berdiev, who will arrive in the country tomorrow for the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia’s (Casbaa) “Philippines in View” event the next day, said that the gathering would be for media industry members to discuss trends and seek opportunities for the growth of the broadcasting sector.
He also shared that there’s an influx of younger Discovery Channel viewers in the country. “The Philippines is a super-connected market with … voracious video consumers and [a] huge millennial viewership. Increasingly, there are more content choices and platforms than ever before. Casbaa gives us the opportunity to [understand] the needs and social behavior … to deliver local, relevant content for today’s audiences.”
Discovery is also investing in more local content, across multiple platforms and formats, according to Berdiev: “Sixteen new local productions will be commissioned for the network’s flagship brands, Discovery Channel and TLC … A significant portion of our content investment is in the Philippines.”
The country is a “robust and competitive market,” he declared. How has the viewership changed, amid various other distractions?
“With the evolving media landscape, it is increasingly important for us to be more experimental than ever before,” he said. “Reception to our show in the Philippines has been overwhelming. ‘The Kings,’ centered around the relationship between prominent couple and LGBT advocates Angelina and Joey Mead King—the first of our local productions to premiere earlier this year, made headways and headlines with a strong digital premiere performance.”
He added that “The Kings” proves to be a resounding success among millennial audiences, receiving over 2 million views, close to 5,000 comments and over 7,000 shares on Facebook.
There are other Pinoy-geared programs in the works, added Berdiev. “Filipino stars populate our network. The pop-science comedy program, ‘You Have Been Warned Asia,’ [has in its cast] Ramon Bautista, Lourd de Veyra, Jun Sabayton, RA Rivera and Angel Rivero. In October, the comedy-travel adventure series, “Worst Vacation Ever,” will star KC and Troy Montero.”
Audiences will remain engaged as well in the foreseeable future. “The Philippines has always yielded amazing stories and talent, and fosters passionate audiences who have high expectations for quality content,” Berdiev said. “We also see the exciting potential for strong Filipino hosts and talent to not only lead shows for us in this market, but to travel the region and possibly fly the flag for Southeast Asia and across the globe.”