Global Video Streaming Service Prime Video Increases Investment for Viewers in the Philippines

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 Starting August 1, viewers in The Philippines can enjoy a local content slate and a localized user experience on Prime Video   

Prime Video announces first local Amazon Original Comedy Island: Philippines in cooperation with Base Entertainment, which will launch in 2023, and underlines its commitment to the local creative community

 

The increased support of local production companies comes as Prime Video launches its first local marketing, created with Filipino producers and featuring Anne Curtis

SINGAPORE—August 1, 2022—Global video streaming service Prime Video today announced it will be increasing its investment for customers in the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia. Beginning today, customers will find a localized content slate and user experience (in local language) on Prime Video and the Prime Video app. 

The streaming service also underlined its commitment to the local creative community by revealing the first local Original Comedy Island: Philippines and exclusive licensing deals for local, Korean, and anime titles.  The news comes as Prime Video launches its first local marketing campaign featuring superstar Anne Curtis in the country.

Now for an introductory offer of 149 PHP per month*, after a seven-day free trial, viewers in the Philippines can sign up for a Prime Video membership and enjoy a great selection of entertainment, from Original productions created by local production companies, local licensed top titles, Korean content, global Amazon Original movies and TV series, and popular Hollywood titles. Prime Video members can stream, download, and watch anytime, anywhere through the Prime Video app on compatible mobile devices, tablets, Smart TVs, or online at PrimeVideo.com.

*Promotional price from 1st August 2022 to 31 December 2023. T&Cs Apply. Learn more at primevideo.com.

“We’re delighted to be increasing our investment in Prime Video for customers in Southeast Asia, making it a truly localized experience—from local content specifically sourced for our customers,  to a localized user experience, and the first full-scale local marketing campaign,” said Josh McIvor, director of International Expansion, Prime Video. “Our support of local production companies in Southeast Asia is a significant step towards our broader international expansion plans and our ambition to become the most local of global streaming services.”

Increasing investment in local Original content and licensed content 

The first local Amazon Original Comedy Island: Philippines is a unique, off-the-wall situational improvisation comedy challenge show. In Comedy Island: Philippines, the mysterious island of Tawa-Tawa reappears after 100 years to commence the so-called ‘centennial games’ starring the best 8 players, consisting of comedians and celebrities. Only one will emerge as winner and will receive an essential gift that humanity needs. Comedy Island: Philippines will be will be produced by Base Entertainment and launch on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories around the world in 2023.

Viewers will be able to enjoy more local exclusive titles such as Big Night, How To Love Mr. Heartless and Whether the Weather Is Fine, in addition to a selection of popular Korean titles such as Nothing Serious and Toy Soldiers: Fake Men 2 The Complete, anime hits such as Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen 0, Ron Howard’s new movie Thirteen Lives, Hollywood blockbuster No Time to Die, global Amazon Originals like The Boys, The Terminal List, licensed US hit shows such as The Good Doctor S1-5, and the highly anticipated The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

The new local Originals are supported by local licensing deals as well as popular exclusive Korean titles and anime hits. Local highlights include Big Night (streaming today), a dramedy starring Christian Bables and directed by Jun Lana, How To Love Mr. Heartless (launching August 15), a romance starring Sue Ramirez, and Award-winning surreal drama Whether The Weather Is Fine (launching October 10) starring Daniel Padilla. Viewers in the Philippines will also be able to enjoy popular Korean titles such as Nothing Serious (streaming today), a romantic film featuring Jeon Jong-seo, Son Seok-gu and Gong Min-jung, and Toy Soldiers: Fake Men 2 The Complete featuring Julien Kang which will launch on Prime Video in August. The slate is complemented by exclusive anime hits such as Demon Slayer (streaming today) and Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (launching December 21),  the number one title in Japanese theatres in 2021. All this is on top of Hollywood Blockbusters such as No Time to Die (streaming today), global Amazon Originals like The Boys, The Terminal List, licensed US hit shows such as The Good Doctor S1-5, and the highly anticipated The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (launching September 2). On August 5, Prime Video will premiere the new Ron Howard movie Thirteen Lives starring Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell. Thirteen Lives premieres on August 5, and recounts the incredible true story of the tremendous global effort to rescue a Thai soccer team who became trapped in the Tham Luang cave during an unexpected rainstorm.  

“Southeast Asia is a tapestry of cultures, languages, and histories, and there has truly never been a better time to be a content creator or a content consumer in this part of the world. We are thrilled to be bringing our first local Amazon Original featuring Filipino talent, the hilarious world of Comedy Island, to customers around the world. This will complement our growing selection of local and Korean series and movies, alongside our amazing global content on Prime Video,” said Erika North, head of Asia-Pacific Originals, Prime Video. “We are committed to supporting the local TV and film industry and working with the most innovative creative talent in the region to bring the very best, most authentic and local storytelling to life, for our customers not only in the region but also Prime Video members around the world. This is just the start.”

First local marketing campaign featuring superstar Anne Curtis

Prime Video today also launched its first marketing campaign created in cooperation with local producers. Featuring local superstar Anne Curtis, the campaign introduces Prime Video to local audiences as a premium video streaming service that entertains, delights and engages.  The first campaign plays with the stereotype that the Pinoy’s are always late – and self-ironically claims that Prime Video is no different.  Prime Video is indeed late to the region, but it definitely was worth the wait just like all things fabulous. The campaign highlights the different content pillars that will make Prime Video the home of entertainment: strong local content, the most loved regional content featuring Korean and Anime titles, and US hits.

 

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About Prime Video

Prime Video offers customers a vast collection of TV shows and movies—all available to watch on practically any device:

●       Included with Prime Video: Watch thousands of popular movies and TV shows, award-winning Amazon Originals and other exclusives, and more. Think global Amazon Original series such as The Boys, The Terminal List, The Wheel of Time, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Grand Tour, and the upcoming highly anticipated series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, as well as critically acclaimed Amazon Original movies like Coming 2 America, The Tomorrow War, and exclusive local titles such as Comedy Island: Philippines, Big Night, and How To Love Mr. Heartless, Korean titles such as The Ghost Station, anime hits such as Jujutsu Kaisen 0, and many more. All available at no additional cost as part of Prime Video, which is available in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

●       Instant Access: Watch at home or on the go with your choice of hundreds of compatible devices. Stream from the web or using the Prime Video app on compatible smartphones, tablets, game consoles, or select smart TVs.

●       Enhanced Experiences: Control how much data you use when streaming and downloading videos by choosing between Good, Better and Best visual quality settings, all of which utilise Prime Video’s state of the art video compression technology to use less data without reducing visual quality. Make the most of every viewing with High Dynamic Range (HDR) compatible content. Go behind the scenes of your favourite movies and TV shows with exclusive X-Ray access, powered by IMDb. Save it for later with select mobile downloads for offline viewing.

●       Personalized: Customers can browse the user interface in their own language and watch popular TV shows and movies with subtitles.

 

About Amazon

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit Amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.

 

 

 

 

 

Witness the “Sing Kulitan” of Young Aspiring Artists on TV5’s Sing Galing Kids

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TV5’s original Videoke Kantawanan ng Bansa, Sing Galing, is back with cute and bubbly contestants as the show officially launches its latest edition featuring young aspiring singers in Sing Galing Kids, premiering this July 16, Saturday, at 6:00 pm.

It’s time to sing along and release your karaoke skills as this fun kiddie edition promises to be an exciting show with a new roster of Jukebossess and the original Sing Masters - Randy Santiago, K Brosas, and Donita Nose.

Sing Galing Kids will be one of the highly anticipated TV5 shows this year as prominent artists from the Philippine music industry will be joining the panel of Sing Galing Kids Jukebosses: the Fearless Diva Jona, Pinoy Hip-Hop Superstar Gloc-9, Asia’s Phoenix Morissette, and Champion Diva Ethel Booba.

Also joining the show are Sing Galing’s beloved mascot, Genie, and Digiverse Master Zendee who will be joined by her adorable and lovely Junior Singtokers Yoyo and Tyronia. Queenay and Sing Galing’s Ultimate Bida-oke grand champion Mari Mar Tua will be the “Arkidia Ates” who will be hanging out with the kiddie contestants.

“Very thankful and blessed ako dahil ako ang napiling makasama dito sa Sing Galing Kids! Sobrang nae-excite ako kasi cute na cute po ako sa mga bata,” “Arkida Ate” Queenay said. “Syempre, abangan niyo, may special role kami dine. Dapat n’yong abangan (yung show)! Nakaka-excite talaga.”

Don’t miss the premiere of Sing Galing Kids this July 16 and witness how this generation’s talented young artists bring out their vocal prowess to become the next videoke champion on TV5.

Bridgerton Season 2: First Look at the Ton!

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Netflix and Shondaland dropped the first look at eight new photos teasing what many different characters in the ton will be up to this season. Bridgerton returns for a second season on March 25, 2022. In keeping with the tradition of the novels, season two tells the romance story of Lord Anthony Bridgerton’s quest for love. 

Bridgerton comes to Netflix from Shondaland and is executive produced by Shonda Rhimes, Betsy Beers, and Chris Van Dusen. Van Dusen also serves as creator and showrunner.

About Bridgerton:

From Shondaland and Creator Chris Van Dusen, the second season of Bridgerton follows Lord Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey), the eldest Bridgerton sibling and Viscount, as he sets out to find a suitable wife. Driven by his duty to uphold the family name, Anthony’s search for a debutante who meets his impossible standards seems ill-fated until Kate (Simone Ashley) and her younger sister Edwina (Charithra Chandran) Sharma arrive from India. When Anthony begins to court Edwina, Kate discovers the true nature of his intentions — a true love match is not high on his priority list — and decides to do everything in her power to stop the union. But in doing so, Kate and Anthony’s verbal sparring matches only bring them closer together, complicating matters on both sides. Across Grosvenor Square, the Featheringtons must welcome the newest heir to their estate while Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) continues to navigate the ton whilst keeping her deepest secret from the people closest to her.

Bridgerton is a romantic, scandalous, and clever series that celebrates the timelessness of enduring friendships, families finding their way, and the search for a love that conquers all. The series also stars Adjoa Andoh (Lady Danbury), Lorraine Ashbourne (Mrs. Varley), Harriet Cains (Philipa Featherington), Bessie Carter (Prudence Featherington), Shelley Conn (Mary Sharma), Nicola Coughlan (Penelope Featherington), Phoebe Dynevor (Daphne Basset), Ruth Gemmell (Violet Bridgerton), Florence Hunt (Hyacinth Bridgerton), Martins Imhangbe (Will Mondrich), Claudia Jessie (Eloise Bridgerton), Calam Lynch (Theo Sharpe), Luke Newton (Colin Bridgerton), Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte), Luke Thompson (Benedict Bridgerton), Will Tilston (Gregory Bridgerton), Polly Walker (Portia Featherington), Rupert Young (Jack), and Julie Andrews as the voice of Lady Whistledown. The series is inspired by Julia Quinn’s novels.

Twitter: @bridgerton

Instagram: @bridgertonnetflix

About Netflix:

Netflix is the world’s leading streaming entertainment service with 214 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries, feature films and mobile games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any Internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.

TV5 Launches “Iba sa 5” Station ID; Offers a Home for Celebrities and Creatives

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MANILA, Philippines – At a time when most have been forced to shut themselves in and many businesses have had no choice but to close down, TV5 has redefined television dynamics by opening their doors to talents and creatives from different networks and giving them a new home. “Iba sa 5,” TV5’s station ID which launched yesterday, features the different celebrities and diverse personalities who now thrive on the channel. Among the slew of stars seen in the video are Maja Salvador, Noel Comia Jr., Empoy Marquez, Billy Crawford, Matteo Guidicelli, Maine Mendoza, Paolo Ballesteros, Cristine Reyes, Herbert Bautista, McCoy de Leon, Randy Santiago, K Brosas, Rey Valera, Alex Gonzaga, Xian Lim, Yassi Pressman, John Estrada, Ellen Adarna, Jay-R, Luchi Cruz-Valdes, Cheryl Cosim, Gretchen Ho, Marga Vargas, Paolo Bediones and Raffy Tulfo. They, and many more, have all come together to produce quality entertainment that brings joy to the viewers.

Maine Mendoza hosts the upcoming PoPinoy, a talent search for the best Pinoy-pop group

The station ID features a catchy jingle composed by Jeff Arcilla, the man behind "Apat na Buwang Pasko" and the original singer of the World Youth Day Song, "Tell the World of His Love." TV5’s highly sing-along-able tune is upbeat and cheerful, to evoke how TV5 is the Filipinos’ happy place, where they can take a fun break from the challenges of the current situation.

Iba-iba, dito makikita. Iba-iba, dito magsasama-sama.

The new line, “Iba sa 5,” doesn’t just mean offering something different, but something for different kinds of people. The ad agency, Grey Philippines, spent months collaborating with TV5 executives to develop a reinvigorated campaign that conveys the channel’s new thrust. Dino Laurena, Chief Operating Officer of Media5, explains, "The concept behind it is to showcase the wide range of programs and genres that TV5 now provides the Filipino audience. Since TV5's transition back to entertainment, it has now become a one-stop channel for all types of content—dramas, gameshows, talent shows, variety, movies, series, news, and sports. Viewers can just tune in to TV5 and find all these there."

Whether solo binge-watching with a bucket of popcorn, having a barkada sports night, or spending a relaxing Sunday with the whole family, TV5 caters to audiences of all demographics. Those who always want to be in the know can get their first dose of the day's news from Frontline sa Umaga, then be the first to get the information they need from the earliest primetime news program, Frontline Pilipinas.

Because Pinoys are known for their love of both music and comedy, they can sing and laugh in equal measure, with the videoke kantawanan ng bansa, Sing Galing. And for feel-good vibes and maximum kilig, there are lighthearted dramas from here and abroad.

Some of the other programs’ Filipinos can enjoy now or look forward to are:

Noel Comia Jr., Maja Salvador, and Empoy lead stars of the hit Niña Niño

Niña Niño – A dramedy series about two siblings leading a life of petty crime to survive, who eventually discover redemption in the form of a life-changing miracle.

Rolling In It Philippines – The local edition of one of the UK’s most popular game shows, where contestants team up with celebrities for a shot at the ultimate cash prize.

PoPinoy – This cutting-edge talent show will follow the entire journey of boy bands & girl groups, as they train to become worthy of bringing Pinoy Pop to the global stage.

Herbert Bautista and Mccoy De Leon star in Puto reboot

Puto – Herbert Bautista, who played the hero puto vendor from the hit ‘80s movie, returns—30 years later! He’s now father to Uno, a bullied teen who realizes he is half-dwende.

Di Na Muli – This romantic drama, top-billed by Julia Barretto, follows the story of a young woman with the ability to see the lifespan of people whenever she holds their hands.

Aside from these original new programs, TV5 is reaching out to an even wider audience by allowing fans of ABS-CBN shows Ang Probinsiyano, ASAP Natin ‘To, and FPJ Da King, to continue watching their old favorites, as well as watch its new dramas Huwag Kang Mangamba, and Init sa Magdamag!

Sports has long been one of TV5’s strengths, and now there’s all the more reason for sports fans to tune in. After a brief hiatus due to the pandemic, the country’s #1 sport is back, as TV5 airs the two top basketball leagues—PBA and NBA.

Sing Galing Jukebosses: Ronnie Liang, Jessa Zaragoza, and Rey Valera

Iba, iba, iba sa 5!

Laurena encapsulates the channel’s campaign: “Iba-iba ang mapapanood mo dito. Iba-ibang viewers ang mag-e-enjoy dito. Iba-iba rin ang mga artista at content creator na makikita mo dito.”

Emphasizing the network's open call for other artists and production houses to come and create magic with TV5, he reiterated, “We have said this before—our doors are open to those who want to work with us. Our collaborations with great artists and creative minds in the industry allow us to offer something fresh, new, and unexpected. That is what makes us truly IBA.”

With Billy Joe Crawford and Xian Lim, TV5’s Newest Game Shows You Shouldn’t Miss

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Indulge in heart-stopping thrill and laughter as the newest game shows liven up your home screens

TV5 ushers the beginning of the Summer Season with two fresh and exciting additions to its game show roster: The Wall Philippines and 1000 Heartbeats - Pintig Pinoy, produced by VIVA Entertainment, are set to be released just a week apart. The Kapatid Network offers a respite by adding to their impressive line-up of entertainment programs - infusing novelty and variety in their programming.

After being lauded as the Best Male Variety Show Host for TV5’s noontime program Lunch Out Loud, Billy Joe Crawford embarks on a new hosting feat as the face of The Wall Philippines, his third running show under the Kapatid network.

Billy Joe Crawford

The Wall is like a giant pachinko game with a twist. The mechanics are simple: get a correct answer to get a GREEN ball, miss a question, and get a RED ball; green adds to the total pot money while red deducts. The game is played by two players with a close familiarity, with the first episodes featuring blood-related contestants. The pair works as a team to bank as much money they can by answering a series of questions. After the third round is a decision round, where drama and hilarity ensues.

Xian Lim

Renowned TV actor, model, and performer Xian Lim will be joined by comedian and Youtuber Chad Kinis, for the heart-clutching and exhilarating variety program 1000 Heartbeats-Pintig Pinoy.

Each of the contestants will be alloted 1000 heartbeats as its equivalent of a time limit to answer a set of questions. With the help of a monitoring equipment, the players’ heart rates will be recorded throughout the game, upon which the game is declared over once all 1000 heartbeats are registered. Conversely, the way to win the cash prize is by keeping their cool under pressure in all seven rounds. 

Both shows exhibit a surge of critical thinking and titillation because of their strategy-reliant nature, with The Wall Philippines being more inclined to strengthen relationships 1000 Heartbeats gauging one’s grace and endurance under pressure.

The Wall Philippines is set to premiere on Saturday, March 13 at 6PM on TV5.

1000 Heartbeats-Pintig Pinoy will air its pilot episode the succeeding week, on Sunday, March 21 at 8PM.

Viewers can access both TV5 via the Cignal Play app. Download for FREE for Android and iOS users.

TV5 brings more exciting shows on 'PRIMETIME TODO' block

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TV5 continues to live up to its promise of inspiring and empowering its Filipino viewers with original and remarkable content; offering a wave of new programs ranging from drama, romance, action and suspense. They are likewise, introducing an alternative way that viewers can enjoy their programs through their 9:30 PM primetime block, PRIMETIME TODO. 

Starting this Monday, November 23, TV5, through its partnership with Cignal TV, will dominate your primetime evenings and bring an influx of fresh and familiar stars as they launch the newest lineup of teleseryes. Cignal Entertainment, the film and television production arm of Cignal TV, has commissioned Archangel Media to bring Ate ng Ate Ko & Carpool, Cornerstone Entertainment for Stay-in Love, and Viva Entertainment to bring Bella Bandida and Kagat ng Dilim.

Now, viewers can enjoy once-a-week series in a variety of genres delivered from Monday-Friday. The PRIMETIME TODO block brings five (5) new shows that will give the viewers a variety of exciting stories to fill their weekday evenings with, namely: Ate Ng Ate Ko (Monday), Stay In Love (Tuesday), Bella Bandida (Wednesday), Carpool (Thursday), and Kagat ng Dilim (Friday). 

Undoubtedly, quality entertainment is at the heart of TV5’s core mission as they continue to provide opportunities for people in the entertainment industry and more meaningful reasons to come together, offering viewers access to a wide array of programs.

Ate ng Ate Ko

Popular actors Kris Bernal and Isabelle de Leon make their return on screen as they star in the newest weekly primetime series, Ate ng Ate Ko, alongside Jake Cuenca, Tonton Gutierrez, Joem Bascon, Kim Last, and Phil Noble. The show boasts a dramatic yet cryptic narrative of two sisters whose differences get in the way of their loving relationship. A mysterious incident causes the sisters to switch roles. The story also tackles a psychological condition called ‘dissociative fugue’ which is a rare form of amnesia wherein one loses awareness of their identity or other important personal information. The pilot episode is set to premiere this November 23 and will air every Monday at 9:30 PM on TV5.

Stay-in Love

Next on TV5’s slew of fresh primetime teleserye is the romantic comedy that will make viewers swoon with excitement. Stay-in Love follows the journey of a young and charming lady, played by Maris Racal, whose dream is to become a maid. As the story unfolds, the audience will be introduced to more characters; all scrambling to get their lives in order and find answers to their troubles. Joining Maris Racal and Ruffa Gutierrez in this light-hearted rom-com are Bobby Andrews, Pooh, Marc David, and breakout artist Kokoy de Santos. Stay-in Love is set to launch this November 24 and will air on TV5 every Tuesday at 9:30 PM.

Bella Bandida

From the producers of action-packed women starrers “Buy Bust” and “Maria” comes Bella Bandida, an action-drama series loosely based on the classic comic book by National Artist Francisco V. Coching. The series is headlined by Ryza Cenon as Bella Banida, an idealistic doctor who inherits mystical powers and uses them to fight injustice and avenge a heinous crime inflicted upon her by a gang of ruthless men. This series will showcase a different kind of female power. Premiering this November 25 on TV5, it will air every Wednesday at 9:30 PM.

Carpool 

Carpool is the newest suspense thriller series which will tackle the lives of four young individuals portrayed by Sarah Carlos, Alex Diaz, Kate Lapuz, and Kenneth Medrano. The series starts with the four sharing a carpool ride together, that leads them to a whirlwind of tragedy and horrific hauntings that will continue to follow them. The mysteries of Carpool further unravel as a former classmate, portrayed by Elora Espano, is suspected to be behind the events that haunt the four passengers. What is mind-boggling though, is that, the said suspect that continues to torment them is already dead. Viewers can catch Carpool on TV5 starting November 26 and will air every Thursday at 9:30 PM.

Kagat ng Dilim

Kagat ng Dilim, is the 2020 evolution of the horror anthology series in the early 2000s. This time, four of the most talented, young and well-known directors of the genre were enlisted to craft 13 episodes of terrifying tales that have haunted the minds of Filipinos. The stories, created by directors Lawrence Fajardo, Richard Somes, Paul Basinillo and Rae Red, are set to give a new generation of Pinoy horror fans a few more reasons to be afraid of the dark. Headlined by top Viva talents such as Matteo Guidicelli, Cristine Reyes, Maui Taylor & Ella Cruz, the series is launching this November 27 and will air every Friday at 9:30PM. 

Ate ng Ate Ko, Stay-in Love, and Carpool will have a next day catch-up airing every 5:30 PM via One Screen on Cignal TV Channel 09 and SatLite Channel 35. Bella Bandida and Kagat ng Dilim will also have its catch-up airings: Bella Bandida starting November 27 airing Fridays at 7:00 PM and Kagat ng Dilim starting November 28, airing Saturdays at 7:00 PM; both via the SARI SARI Channel on Cignal TV Channel 03 and SatLite Channel 30. 

What’s more, you can access both One Screen and SARI SARI Channel via the Cignal Play app. Download for FREE for Android and iOS users.

Indeed, Cignal Entertainment & TV5 remain true to its mission in redefining the television experience. These giants continue to showcase Filipino ingenuity and highlight passion by providing its viewers outstanding production. Creativity and collaboration will continue to remain at the heart of Philippine entertainment; and TV5’s Bigger Better BER Months campaign is a testament to that.