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ADD
Makisig Network to the list of contenders vying to
become the next television coveror of the Philippine
Basketball Association (PBA).
The
BusinessMirror learned that the cable channel, known for
its extensive coverage of the local racing industry,
sent a letter of intent to the office of the PBA
Wednesday.
Makisig
Network is owned by businessman-sportsman Hermie
Esguerra, chairman and CEO of the Herma Group, a
conglomerate of several shipping and environmental
businesses.
Esguerra,
owner of champion horses Windblown and Real Spicy,
established his network primarily to position
horseracing as an entertainment sport, not as a form of
gambling.
Makisig
Network and IBC-13 have an existing deal that gives
Esguerra’s network a privilege in filling up the local
station’s prime-time slots. The PBA has reportedly set
a self-imposed deadline to name its next TV coveror on
May 31.
In
another development, ABS-CBN denied reports it is
actively pursuing to get the TV rights of the PBA.
All ABS-CBN’s
vice president for sports Peter Musngi confirmed was
that their network is in the midst of finalizing a deal
with the league when in comes to its international feed.
The
network carries the international broadcast of the PBA
through its TFC channel, which beams other Philippine
shows in the United States and the Middle East.
“There
are communications but it’s neither here nor there. Our
thrust, really, is the international TV rights. We do
not want to be in a bidding war. If there’s a bidding,
we will not participate,” said Musngi in a telephone
interview.
Initially, ABS-CBN and Solar Sports are the only
networks reportedly vying to get the television rights
of the league after current coveror ABC-5 formally
announced weeks ago it will not pursue a renewal of
their existing pact with the PBA.
ABC-5,
owned by businessman Tonyboy Cojuangco, will cover the
PBA only until the end of the season.
But
another source said ABS-CBN, owned by the influential
Lopez family, made an official presentation with the PBA
Board that involves the main TV coverage of the league.
“As far
as the PBA is concerned, they have two proposals from
two different networks, namely, ABS-CBN and Solar
Sports,” revealed the source. “I guess they [ABS-CBN] do
not want to be pitted against Solar Sports for obvious
reasons because they are insisting on one-on-one talks
with the PBA.”
Solar
Sports, whose bitter rivalry with ABS-CBN started when
both made aggressive bids to cover the fights of
Filipino boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao, will
reportedly tap RPN-9 as its carrying station should it
get the nod.
ABS-CBN,
on the other hand, apparently offered its VHF channel
Studio 23 as the carrying station should they get the TV
rights.
“The
contact [between PBA and ABS-CBN] happened because of
the international TV rights. We are just informally
talking about the local coverage,” added Musngi.
Recently
former PBA board chairman Ricky Vargas, representing
Talk ’N Text in the Board of Governors, wants the next
coveror to improve on the coverage of Asia’s first
pay-for-play-league.
“The
question I asked [the board] is why the UAAP coverage
and their graphics are so much better than the PBA?
Why?” said Vargas, referring to the country’s premier
collegiate league aired over Studio 23. |
