BIZ BUZZ: Globe plus Disney+, take two

They were supposed to bring their services to the Philippines a few years ago, but for one reason or another, things simply didn’t pan out.

We’re talking about the on-demand streaming service of Walt Disney Co., called Disney+, which was originally slated to enter the local market through a partnership with Globe Telecom Inc. The deal was sealed as early as 2015.

But a whole lot of business issues got in the way (we hear these included concerns over pricing, intellectual property protection and the readiness of the local market) to the point that the deal was put on the back burner.

On Thursday, however, Disney+ announced via an email to its fans that the service will finally be available in the local market starting Nov. 17. That means Filipino viewers will no longer have to patronize illegal streaming services to be able to watch the latest superhero TV series or movies from Marvel Studios or the Star Wars franchise, among others.

And for how much? The service will cost as low as P159 a month or a discounted P1,150 a year for mobile subscriptions and P369 a month or a discounted P2,950 for the annual rate of the premium service.

For now, we’re told Disney+ will be launched without a telco partner, meaning subscribers can get the app through Google Play or the Apple Store.

But Biz Buzz is also hearing a rumor that Disney+ is in the final stages of negotiations with Globe for a partnership that could potentially be launched by early 2023.

So … will love be sweeter the second time around? And, more importantly, will it be profitable? Abangan!

—Daxim L. Lucas

Star power at MerryMart

The MerryMart Group of young tycoon Edgar “Injap” Sia II just added some serious star power to its recently launched MM Wholesale App with the signing last Oct. 18 of celebrity Piolo Pascual as its first brand ambassador.

Under the partnership, Pascual will be featured in a series of year-round advertisements for MM Wholesale App starting next month.

This is part of the goal of MM Wholesale to become one of the largest grocery supply networks in the country as MerryMart believes that Pascual can enhance the rapport that the app is developing with the micro, small and medium scale enterprises.

Through the app, MSMEs can take advantage of lower wholesale prices of some 5,000 essential products, including rice and milk. And since they only have to buy from one channel, they can then devote more time and money for their own business.

Starting next month, MM Wholesale will add more features and carry more products that can also serve the needs of big households and corporations.

Delivery of products bought through the app currently covers Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and Cavite but MerryMart has started the groundwork to expand nationwide in tandem with DoubleDragon’s CentralHub warehouse expansion in various provinces across the country.

Despite the challenges, the MerryMart Group remains optimistic and is focused on its 2030 goal of generating at least P120 billion in systemwide revenues—with more than a little help from Piolo Pascual.

—Tina Arceo-Dumlao

Sinag sustainability winners

Entrepreneurs, educators and intervenors reaped financial grants at the recent BPI Foundation Sinag business challenge.

The 8-year-old program gave out a total of P3 million to support various sustainable social enterprises and individuals, chosen from a pool of over 200 participants.

The top five social entrepreneurs took home P300,000 in cash. These were Breastfeeding Care Center of the North (Baguio City), Coron Natural Farms (Palawan), PHILIA (Sultan Kudarat), Shiftech Marine (Misamis Oriental) and Zarahlan Bokashi Composting (Quezon City).

Other winners were awarded P100,000. These were Green Beauty and Wellness Center (Sorsogon), Ride Mommy Delivery Services (Cagayan), Sanagi Agri Tourism Farm (Benguet), Studentship Educational Innovations Philippines, OPC (Sultan Kudarat) and Tableya Filipino (Davao City).

All 10 winners would also undergo a six-month mentorship program from the pioneering social enterprise incubator Bayan Academy for Social Entrepreneurship and Human Resource Development.

Other special awards were also granted to Tableya, 1740 Coffee Genesis (National Capital Region), Capili Trading Inc. (Misamis Oriental) and Ride Mommy, and Eduksine (Bulacan).

The top five intervenors were Fashion Innovative Businesses for the Environment, Reformation, and Sustainability, Manila Water Foundation, Lorma Community Development Foundation Inc., Far Eastern University-Nicanor Reyes Memorial Foundation, and PeaceBuilders Community, Inc. Each received a cash grant of P100,000.

The top five educators were Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges, Catanduanes State University, International School for Better Beginnings, Palawan State University-Narra and Southville International School. Each received a grant of P100,000.

—Miguel R. Camus

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