Solar stands by UAAP bid despite row

MANILA, Philippines - Solar Sports is pursuing its bid for the exclusive broadcast rights of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines notwithstanding the Manny Pacquiao brouhaha.

“Our UAAP bid is in,” Jude Turcuato, the Solar Sports marketing manager, told The STAR yesterday.

The statement came a few days after Pacquiao bolted out of Solar Sports, which has televised some of his past fights including his smashing victory over Oscar “The Golden Boy” dela Hoya last December.

The controversy somehow cast doubt on the capability and financial viability of Solar Sports in engaging television giants ABS-CBN and GMA in a bidding war for the right to air the UAAP events.

To date, ABS-CBN, through its UHF channel Studio 23, has been airing the UAAP games for the 10th season now. The existing contract between ABS-CBN and the UAAP expires on March 31, 2010.

“Whatever is the result of the Pacman issue, we stand by the UAAP bid. The Pacquiao issue should have nothing to do with it,” said Turcuato.

If it wins, Solar Sports would telecast games on CS9, its free channel partner, and its basketball and non-basketball cable channels BTV and Solar, respectively.

As for catering to the global market, Turcuato is offering a possible linkage with TFC (The Filipino Channel) and Pinoy TV as its international partners the same way it is doing with the Philippine Basketball Association.

“We don’t have an international channel so we will offer TFC and Pinoy TV if they (UAAP) want the PBA set-up,” Turcuato said.

TFC is owned by ABS-CBN while Pinoy TV is the new international channel of GMA.

To gain an edge, ABS-CBN earlier stated it would air the best-of-three UAAP seniors’ championship on Channel 2 instead of on Studio 23 as practiced in the past nine seasons.

GMA, which presented its official bid to the UAAP board Thursday, will televise it on affiliate channel QTV 11.