Alternatives to an expensive "ABS-CBN" subscription
Is it *really* needed to spend a fortune for TV?
A while ago a new pay tv package started to be received in Europe called "TFC", "The Filipino Channel", a branch of the Philippines largest network "ABS-CBN". At first glance a great chance for Balikbayans to experience a part of their homeland abroad, if it wasn't that expensive! If you subscribe for one year, you have to pay 500Euro, 300Euro for the viewing card and another 200Euro for a special receiver or a CAM needed to use the card with an usual receiver - altogether a sum of 35,000 PhP! That's more expensive than a typical subscription to "Premiere", the German prime time pay tv consisting of many channels, while the "TFC" package only contains 4 TV and 2 radio channels. (Actually there are 5 TV channels, but 2 of those don't differ much). Not to mention, that you need a second satellite dish beside you're existing one, as "TFC" is using an "exotic" satellite... again some hundred Euro to be spend!
I was tempted to subscribe to "TFC", but presently I won't do so, because I realized how much money it is. My fiancee may get to Germany in May, while our marriage is planned in July. All this will cost a lot, so I really need to set preferences and there are so many things which are more important than watching TV. What about a new cooker/oven for my mother-in-law? I could buy nearly 7 new ovens for the money needed for an annual subscription of "TFC"! I may still change my mind, if "ABS-CBN" may come down to reasonable prices for their subscription...
In the meantime I searched for other possibilities to avoid my future wife loosing contact to the Philippines after coming here. There are many free-of-charge choices and perhaps also interesting for other Filipinos/Filipinas abroad:
- Tagalog movies on VCD or DVD
Though such media can hardly be found in German shops, there are many dealers on eBay meanwhile, who sell such VCD's or DVD's at good prices. Just try a search for "VCD + Tagalog" or similar.
- Online Radio
If you have access to an Internet flatrate like DSL or similar, there's a great possibility to receive Pinoy radio. Over 20 stations are available, not only two as inside the "TFC" package. The very best site I found so far is eradioportal.com. The sound quality is amazingly good.
- Online newspapers
To access the news you may also visit one of the Filipino newspapers online, as there are:
- Watch the news online
by visiting the INQ7 video archive
- Search engines and portals
If you can't find the information needed by accessing one of the above mentioned links, you can still try searching on one or more of those sites:
If you have any suggestions or comments, please e-mail me. Maraming salamat!
