NBN expects worst for TV fiasco

Termination of the National Broadcasting Network Channel 4’s contract to cover the PBA games seems a foregone conclusion.

With 12 days left to work out a solution to the broadcast impasse, NBN-4 chair Mia Concio appeared resigned to the impending breakup of their partnership with the PBA for the failure of the network to meet its financial obligations.

"It’s really sad because you know how hard you work for it. We worked very hard to the very end. But it’s really the PBA’s call. After all, there’s a contract and there are terms that we have to comply with," Concio told The STAR.

Concio admitted "there is a very big possibility" the NBN-IBC consortium would not be able to meet the requirements given them by the PBA to keep their side of the deal on the league’s broadcast rights.

The PBA sent the consortium a notice on Dec. 1, giving them a month to settle their debts and iron out kinks on their coverage of the games or the contract would be terminated.

The consortium now owes the league P134 million in franchise fee, apart from the P60 million IBC-13 incurred in penalty for stopping its coverage of the games starting last October.

In the notice of termination, the PBA wanted the consortium to pay the franchise fee, settle the "Letter of Credit" problem and make assurance of the resumption of the simulcast coverage.

"We’re working on several options. Who knows? Baka may makuha kaming bagong partner which is willing to pay the franchise fee. But the simulcast is beyond our control. Hindi namin kontrolado ang Channel 13," said Concio.

"That’s the problem because the PBA said that if we don’t correct the lapses or breaches on our end, the contract would be annulled," she added.

A reliable source said the termination of what was supposed to be a three-year contract is a done deal with the PBA board of governors now studying their options with regards to the game coverage.

According to a source, the No. 1 option is for the league to put up its own production. The other options are to contract another network or enter into a co-production deal.

"For so long, the PBA has been trying to control its destiny and this unexpected turn of events now gives us an opportunity to attain that goal," The STAR source quoted commissioner Noli Eala as saying.

Potential sponsors apparently shied away from the coverage due to controversies that rocked the league. And the failure of the consortium’s marketing and financial arm, Summit Sports World Inc., to fulfill its obligations caused NBN and IBC to pile up huge airtime and production debts.

Whether they eventually lose the PBA coverage or not, Concio said they would go after Summit Sports.

"The case actually is now with the OGCC (Office of the Government Corporate Counsel). Sila ang hahabulin namin," said Concio.