TV5 AND ABS-CBN TO AIR THE 26TH SEA GAMES!

ABS-CBN and TV5 will share the broadcast rights of the 2011 Southeast Asian Games slated next month in Palembang and Jakarta, Indonesia.

The two networks, which are currently developing a rivalry particularly in sports coverage, are going to split the coverage of several sports disciplines in the biennial event that will be held from Nov. 11-22.

TV5 was first to announce through a television commercial and announcements on the internet that it will show the games through its sports channel AKTV, a block-timer on government channel IBC 13.

But ABS-CBN recently showed a commercial announcing that it will also air the games, thus suggesting that the TV5 deal was non-exclusive.

Apparently, a source said that ABS-CBN appeared to have secured the rights to air the basketball and football competitions, sports that will obviously attract significant ratings. The same source also said that negotiations for a deal were done by a third-party.

Perhaps making it attractive for the giant network was the participation of the Philippine U-23 team to the SEA Games since they are also in a current one-year deal to cover matches of the Philippine Azkals.

Also attractive is basketball where the National squad will be led mostly by collegiate stars and Smart-Gilas skipper Chris Tiu with Ateneo’s Norman Black as coach.

There was no television coverage during the 2009 games held in Laos but networks like ABS-CBN and GMA provided daily reports and highlights through their nightly news channels. The Philippines placed fifth with 38 gold medals.

The last full coverage came in the 2007 Nakhon Ratchasima meet where the Filipinos placed sixth overall with 41 golds. (Jonas Terrado)

SOURCE: TEMPO