GMA 7 and Solar wants to cover UAAP

Before, there was a battle over the local TV right for the Pacquiao - Hatton fight on May 2, 2009 when Manny Pacquiao announced on ABS CBN that his upcoming fight will be shown on the Kapamilya network, notwithstanding the fact that Pacquiao's MP Promotions has a live and valid contract with Solar Entertainment Corporation until 2010, hence triggering a legal action as against the Filipino boxing icon and ABS CBN by Solar Sports and posibbly GMA 7 Network. It was only prevented when Pacquiao straightened things out and decided to honor his existing contract with Solar. Now, the television networks' battle has extended over the right of an exclusive coverage of the 73rd season of the UAAP. Although there are three giant television networks that expressed their intention to become the official broadcast partner in 2010, the Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) said it is “too early to tell.”

Board representative Anton Montinola of incoming host Far Eastern University (FEU) said that UAAP is not “rushing things” to determine which among the three networks have the best offer because there is still a year left before ABS CBN contract expires.

“In respect to ABS CBN, we don’t want to say or give any early presumption because there is still one-year left for them although the bidding war has been open to any aspiring network,” Montinola added.

But the soft-spoken Montinola said that the UAAP board is very glad to find out the three highly-respected broadcasting television networks have signified their intention to bid to become UAAP’s next television carrier.

“We are glad, of course, because there are three TV networks that are very, very much interested to become our partner next season,” said Montinola.  “They also presented their respective bids, offers and plans. This is the first time that this is happening.”

Giant television network ABS CBN, which presently owns the rights to telecast all UAAP events until March 31, 2010, and Solar Sports Entertainment Corporation expressed their intention earlier to bid last week.

Another giant television network GMA7, Montinola said, has joined the bidding war lately that made it a three-way fight among GMA7, Solar and ABS CBN.

A highly-reliable source from GMA7, who requested anonymity, said they are willing to give everything to the UAAP to get the UAAP broadcast rights.

“The big bosses of GMA7 will do everything to win the bidding war whether they spend million just to attract the attention of the board,” said by the source.

If it wins, GMA-7 would air the UAAP basketball games and other sports events on its QTV Channel 11 and its affiliate international channel. It would also mark the two stations first venture into sports.

For its part, ABS-CBN has offered to telecast the best-of-three UAAP seniors’ championship on Channel 2 instead of airing it on its UHL channel Studio 23 as it used to do in the last nine seasons.

Solar, for its part, will air it on CS9 and its cable channel BTV like it does with the PBA, PBL and the NBA games.

A high-ranking official from the Solar Sports, who also requested not to be named, said they are willing to offer more money but did not mention any amount.  ABS CBN did not present contract is worth P75 million for five years.

Montinola, however, declined to comment regarding the respective financial offer by the three stations, saying “We are (UAAP and GMA7, ABS CBN and Solar) still far from that discussion.”

All three networks have offered a five-year deal, according to Montinola.

credits to: inboundpass