Filipino TV in the USA: TFC, GMA Pinoy TV and Teleseryes

Filipino Americans and Pinoy TV

Filipino Americans are the third-largest Asian origin group in the US. Pew Research Center reports about 4.6 million people identified as Filipino in 2023. The biggest communities are around Los Angeles, about 500,000 people, the San Francisco Bay Area, about 290,000, and New York, about 250,000. Hawaii, San Diego, Las Vegas, Seattle, Chicago and New Jersey also have large communities.

Many Filipino households grew up with the rivalry between ABS-CBN and GMA, and families often follow the same teleseryes as relatives back home. Noontime variety shows, news from Manila and boxing or basketball are the other favourites.

Filipino channels people look for

On the ABS-CBN side, people look for TFC (The Filipino Channel), its international network, and for news from ABS-CBN News and ANC. On the GMA side, the international channels are GMA Pinoy TV for entertainment, GMA Life TV for lifestyle and classic shows, and GMA News TV for news. TV5 and its Kapatid channels are another option, along with religious channels many families watch.

• Entertainment: TFC, GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, Kapatid Channel
• News: ANC, GMA News TV, ABS-CBN News
• Also watched: TV5, Net 25, UNTV

Official options in the US

ABS-CBN runs iWantTFC, its streaming service with TFC content, teleseryes and movies. YouTube TV offers a Filipino Plus add-on, and GMA says its international channels GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV and GMA News TV are available on YouTube TV in the US. GMA also posts many clips and full episodes on its official YouTube channels.

These are the direct, licensed routes and work well if your family mainly follows one network. Prices and packages change, so check iWantTFC and YouTube TV for current details.

Filipino channels with TarakTV

TarakTV is an IPTV subscription with Filipino channels people commonly look for, as well as US, international and sports channels, in one app with a TV guide. That suits households that want both networks, or Filipino TV alongside other channels, on one subscription. Channel line-ups on any IPTV service can change, so use the free 24-hour trial to check what you need.

Plans cost $15 for one month, $130 for one year, $220 for three years and $300 for five years. Support is on WhatsApp, so you can message us any time a channel or the app needs attention.

Devices and internet speed

TarakTV runs on Amazon Fire TV Stick, Android smart TVs, Android TV boxes, phones and tablets, and the Cast4K player app. We also sell TVIP and Yoka TV boxes that come ready to plug in, shipped within the US and Canada. They are a good choice for lolo and lola, because there is nothing to install.

For a steady picture, plan on about 15 Mbps per screen for HD and about 25 Mbps for 4K. If several people stream at once, add those together. A wired connection to the TV helps most with buffering.

Time-zone tips for teleseryes

Philippine Standard Time is 13 hours ahead of US Eastern time from November to March and 12 hours ahead when the US is on daylight time. On the West Coast it is 16 hours ahead in winter and 15 in summer. A primetime teleserye at 8pm in Manila airs at 7am Eastern or 4am Pacific in winter, and the noontime show airs late at night in the US.

Most families watch on catch-up or later replays rather than live. Use the TV guide to find the episode and catch-up where the channel offers it.

Choosing the right setup and common fixes

If your family follows only ABS-CBN or only GMA, the official service for that network is the direct choice. If you want both, or Filipino channels alongside US news and sports, one live TV plan is often simpler. Think about who will use it: older relatives usually do best with one app and a clear TV guide.

Big live events, such as major boxing fights or holiday specials, are when connections are tested most. Check your setup the day before.

If a channel freezes or buffers, start with the simple fixes: restart the Fire TV Stick or box, check that nothing else in the house is downloading, and move the router closer or use an Ethernet cable. Running a speed test on the TV itself, not your phone, gives the most accurate picture.

If only one channel has a problem while others play fine, it is usually on the channel side rather than your internet. Message TarakTV on WhatsApp with the channel name and the time, and we will check it.

Channels people look for

Line-ups change; ask for the current list or check during your free trial.

Frequently asked questions