Witness the most beautiful day in the universe as international streaming app iQiyi brings the 69th Miss Universe Competition on May 17 at 8 a.m.
iQiyi will also deliver exclusive behind-the-scenes and never-before-seen content leading up to one of the most awaited yearly global competitions.
Curated unforgettable pageant highlights, backstage and offstage scenes, and glam cams will be accessible through a dedicated page on the iQiyi platform (web and app).
“We at iQiyi are excited about this partnership with the Miss Universe Organization. This development is a key milestone in our journey to bring content that our viewers love to them through our platform. As the MUO’s official partner for the 69th Miss Universe Competition, Filipinos will be able to stream the pageant live for free on May 17 exclusively on our iQiyi International app and iQ.com,” says iQiyi Philippines Country Manager Sherwin Dela Cruz.
“Our partnership with iQiyi in the Philippines will allow us to tap into their cutting-edge technology to expand the reach and viewership of this year’s Miss Universe competition,” said Paula M. Shugart, president of The Miss Universe Organization.
Shugart added: “We knew that joining forces with iQiyi is the right decision to make this year’s Miss Universe Competition accessible to every Filipino with data or access to Wifi."
iQiyi’s investment in their partnership with the Miss Universe Organization is a show of the company’s commitment to Filipino viewers. The announcement comes off the back of the recent unveiling of a partnership with GHY Culture and Media to form Uni-Icon, a regional agency set up to discover Southeast Asian talents in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, and give them the platform to access international viewership.
“As the home of beloved Asian entertainment, iQiyi will continue to strengthen our content offerings for our local viewership, building on our current Chinese, Korean, Anime portfolio. You can look forward to more exciting developments from us,” added Sherwin dela Cruz.
Viewers can easily access iQiyi International via iQ.com or download the app for free from the Apple Store or Google Play Store.
Just recently, Philippine media giant GMA Network sealed a multi-year partnership with iQiyi International – making Kapuso dramas the first Filipino content to be available on the said OTT platform.
Subscribers of iQiyi in the Philippines can now watch the latest episodes of some of the newest Kapuso dramas within 24 hours express from TV airing on the iQiyi app or iQ.com. The first titles to be made available include First Yaya as well as upcoming shows Legal Wives, Nagbabagang Luha, and Love You Stranger.
The multi-year partnership, which covers nearly a thousand episodes, bolsters iQiyi International’s wide array of Asian content, and at the same time allows GMA programs to be accessible to millions of users of the platform.
“We are honored and grateful for iQiyi’s trust in partnering with GMA Network as the Kapuso programs jumpstart the exciting line-up of Filipino content for this platform. As we continue to adapt to the shifting interests of our viewers and their viewing habits, we relentlessly produce world-class entertainment programs that can be consumed in various platforms and iQiyi International’s massive user base will likewise complement our digital efforts,” said GMA Network Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon.
GMA President and COO Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr. also underscored how apt this deal is for both companies. “Our joining forces with one of the world’s largest streaming platforms is a very fitting team-up. We believe that combining both GMA and iQiyi’s strengths creates a formidable partnership. Congratulations to all!”
“iQiyi is committed to bringing the best in local dramas to our local viewers across the Philippines for them to watch anytime, anywhere. iQiyi and GMA have been in discussion to join forces for the benefit of our viewers for a while, and we could not be more thrilled to finally embark on this exciting journey together. We are excited that this year alone, 12 new titles with over 1000 catch-up episodes will be available on iQiyi. As the home of beloved Asian entertainment, iQiyi International will continue to strengthen our content offerings for our local viewership, building on our current Korean, Chinese and Anime content. This is a big milestone for us, and the first of several we have for the year,” said Dela Cruz.
For only Php99 per month, subscribers can enjoy premium content and catch up on their favorite Kapuso shows anytime and anywhere via iQ.com or the iQiyi International app.
The romantic-comedy series “First Yaya” tells the aspirational story of an ordinary woman who gets to lead an extraordinary life as the nanny of the president’s children and, along the way, falls for the country’s highest officer. The original drama introduces the newest and highly-anticipated pairing of award-winning actor Gabby Concepcion as President Glenn Acosta and talented Kapuso actress Sanya Lopez as Yaya Melody.
Viewers should also watch out for more upcoming GMA dramas that are soon to be available on the iQiyi app and iQ.com within 24 hours from TV airing. “Legal Wives” is a breakthrough cultural drama series starring Kapuso Drama King Dennis Trillo, together with Alice Dixson, Andrea Torres, and Bianca Umali.
The TV adaptation of the 1988 award-winning film and "Nagbabagang Luha” is bannered by Glaiza de Castro and Rayver Cruz, introducing Claire Castro with Mike Tan.
Finally, the much-awaited on-screen tandem of real-life couple Gabbi Garcia and Khalil Ramos is all set in the romance-mystery mini-series “Love You Stranger.”