FOR the first time since 2000, UAAP may no longer be calling ABS-CBN as its home network.
That's the tough reality the league is facing following the House of Representatives' decision to deny the television giant a new franchise on Friday.
UAAP executive director Rebo Saguisag said that the UAAP will still continue its talks with ABS-CBN, although hopes of a renewal of partnership may be bleak at this point.
"We'll proceed as planned, conclude negotiations, and evaluate," he said in a short chat with Spin.ph.
The UAAP's current five-year deal with ABS-CBN expired last at the end of May. Negotiations for a contract renewal were subsequently stalled by the global COVID-19 pandemic and the network's franchise woes in Congress.
ABS-CBN has served as the UAAP's home network since 2000, with basketball and volleyball games preeminently carried by ABS-CBN Sports + Action (UHF channel 23), and some finals games finding their way to ABS-CBN Channel 2.
Before that, the UAAP games were shown on RPN-9 from 1989 to 1994 and on PTV-4 from 1995 to 1999. Those telecasts were produced by Silverstar Sports, owned by Louis Kierulf.
As of now, the focus for Saguisag and the UAAP is to strike a new deal, may it be with ABS-CBN or another TV network.
"We'll consider other parties if necessary. We'll choose what's for the best interest of the UAAP community," he said.
If the UAAP chooses to renew its partnership with the TV network, it will have to make do with its online platforms in the absence of the embattled media giant's franchise to its free TV and cable channels.
The possibility of block timing in another channel remains an option for ABS-CBN, in the event it retains the TV rights on arguably the most lucrative sports franchise in the country today.
Still, it's an open season for other TV networks, with TV5 poised to make a strong bid.
Ss much as Saguisag and the league feels for ABS-CBN, they know that at some point, life must go on.
"We commisserate with our long-time partner, but this is ultimately a business decision that the board will have to make using their best judgment," he said.
https://www.spin.ph/basketball/uaap-men/denial-of-new-franchise-forces-uaap-to-rethink-its-partnership-deal-with-abs-cbn-a2437-20200711
