There is a clear attempt by certain malicious quarters to taint Solar Entertainment’s reputation as a professional producer of big sporting events on TV.
Ever since Solar made a recent bid for the telecast rights of the UAAP basketball tournament, a campaign has unravelled to put Solar in a bad light. The allegation is Solar is financially-strapped and wouldn’t be able to back up its bid so why bother even considering the UAAP offer.
The initial salvo was fired to twist the facts surrounding Solar’s relationship with the PBA. The hatchetmen said Solar was bargaining to reduce its fees to exclusively air the PBA on TV after just a single conference and cited the reduction of pay to talents as additional proof of rough sailing.
But the truth of the matter is Solar never asked for a reduction of fees. The smear artists conveniently turned a discussion between Solar and the PBA about a lockout provision in their contract into fertile ground for spreading lies.
It was the PBA that initiated talks with Solar about a lockout clause. The PBA asked Solar what it would mean, in terms of unrealized sales potential, if the lockout is imposed. Solar said it may lead to a 25 percent decrease. The hatchetmen then used the figure – 25 percent – as the supposed discount Solar wanted from its original fee.
“The existing contract has no lockout but restrictions for competing brands,” explained Solar vice president Jude Turcuato. “The 25 percent is to revise the contract and extend the restrictions to a lockout for all games of the PBA team that competes with the brands in question.”
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Turcuato confirmed that the PBA asked what would be the lockout’s impact on Solar’s sales volume and Solar estimated 25 percent.
“We’re okay with the status quo with no revisions in our contract,” said Turcuato. “But the PBA asked and we came up with a figure.”
In a message to the UAAP Board to clear the air, Solar chairman William Tieng said: “For your guidance, after a protracted discussion, the PBA made a recent written request to Solar that in exchange for a reduction of rights granted (to impose a lockout), what will Solar consider as a fair reduction of the license fee? If you wish to check the veracity of my clarification and with his permission, please call commissioner Sonny Barrios.”
Tieng’s explanation refutes the below-the-belt insinuations made by the hatchetmen to besmirch Solar’s name.
“We never asked for a discount,” stressed Solar chief operating officer Peter Chanliong. “We respect the provisions in our contract. But the PBA asked if we could do a lockout and at what cost. That’s what the discussion is all about.”
As for the reduction of pay to talents, Turcuato said Solar is rationalizing costs across the board.
“The company is in the process of right-sizing,” said Turcuato. “We’re studying economic conditions and how we should position ourselves given the expectations. This is part of the process of evolution but we’re moving ahead to build on what we’ve got.”
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Both Turcuato and I are broadcasters with Solar covering the PBA for TV. We understand the problems that the media industry faces today and appreciate what Solar is doing to sacrifice now for a better tomorrow. In good times, we broadcasters celebrate with Solar. In not-so-good times, we must also share in the belt-tightening. That’s the essence of a relationship that unfortunately, hatchetmen don’t understand.
Aside from the PBA, Solar has rights to coveted properties such as the NBA and Manny Pacquiao.
Those orchestrating the smear campaign against Solar are also trying to drive a wedge between the network and Pacquiao for their selfish ends.
“They’re muddling the situation with the UAAP and dragging Manny into the picture,” said Chanliong. “For the record, Solar and Manny signed a four-year contract expiring in 2012. It’s what you call an iron-clad deal. The report claiming that the contract is being ditched is erroneous.”
Because of its dominant position in sports, Solar is envied by other networks unable to crash the party and that’s why it’s often the target of hatchetmen working for “special interests.” It’s typical crab mentality.