ABC-5 to cover major SEAG events

ABC-5 will stop its regular programming and devote huge airtime for its coverage of the 23rd Southeast Asian Games.

Although ABC-5 has yet to finalize its deal with the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee, the Tonyboy Cojuangco-owned network has been mapping up plans to come up with a coverage at par with international standards.

The most popular events in the country will be covered by ABC-5 except billiards. Among the events to be covered by ABC-5 are boxing, volleyball, badminton, bowling and basketball should this be included in the SEAG calendar.

"This will be our contribution to the country. We expect this SEA Games to produce new Filipino sporting heroes and we want to bring the exploits of our kababayans on the TV sets the best way we can," said ABC-5 program manager Winston dela Cruz.

Actually, Philsoc is awarding the exclusive TV rights of the games to three outfits in ABC-5, NBN-4 and IBC-Jemah. But ABC-5 serves as the lead host broadcaster because of its technical expertise, huge personnel and equipment.

Philsoc is also offering athletics to ABC-5 but the two parties have yet to come to an agreement. "We’ve yet to say yes because you would need different equipment in covering track and field events," said Dela Cruz.

ABC-5 kicks off its full-blown coverage of the games with the airing of the opening ceremonies on Nov. 27 starting at 4 p.m. Before that, the network features primers in the run-up to the games.