What triggered turn-around?

Last October, it was announced that TV5 had been awarded the telecast rights of the coming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur by the POC. The choice wasn’t only logical but also the moral thing to do since TV5 had gone more than the extra mile in covering the previous SEA Games in Singapore, the Sochi Winter Olympics and the last two Summer Olympics. TV5’s partnership with the POC has been more than business-like. It’s been a close, personal relationship.

Since TV5 is part of the MVP Group, the orientation towards sports is a natural. The MVP Group has done more than its share in supporting the POC through sustained sponsorship of NSAs involved in boxing, basketball, badminton, golf, taekwondo and others. It’s also no accident that TV5’s president is Chot Reyes who happens to be Gilas head coach. 

POC secretary-general Steve Hontiveros was quoted in media as confirming the deal with TV5. “We had a good experience with TV5 when they covered the 2015 SEA Games in Singapore,” said Hontiveros. “This time, since TV5 has been working with the POC, they were given the preference to cover the next SEA Games in Malaysia.” POC president Jose Cojuangco, Jr. was present when Hontiveros made the statement during the thanksgiving press conference for the returning Rio Olympians last October.

Reyes himself thanked the POC for its trust and confidence. “We at TV5 continue to cover sports because we believe that sports plays a huge role in nation-building,” he said. “We are no less proud to announce that we have secured the rights and partnered with the POC to bring the SEA Games in 2017. We’re going to be there for our athletes, bringing to the Filipino audience all their heroic feats.”

For some reason, no contract was ever signed to formalize the agreement between TV5 and the POC for this year’s SEA Games. Maybe, both parties took it for granted since a handshake is more binding between close partners. Then, something happened along the way. MVP Group executive Ricky Vargas went up against Cojuangco for the POC presidency last November. 

Over the weekend, word leaked out that the POC was ready to award the SEA TV rights to PTV4, the government network that is strapped for cash with bare-bones equipment compared to TV5’s facilities. The contract with PTV4 is now on the POC’s desk for signing. Apparently, the POC also considered ABS-CBN as a coveror. 

A source from TV5 said the turn-around was a shocker. On the basis of the October agreement, TV5 had gone ahead to set aside long hours of air time in its grid for the SEA Games and procured additional equipment to do a more widespread and technologically-advanced coverage. All of a sudden, TV5 finds itself locked in a room with no windows. What happened to the personal relationship and the handshake agreement with the POC?

ABS-CBN could commit only air time on its S+A cable station so the bid was no match for what TV5 and PTV4 had to offer since both were willing to put out prime hours. PTV4’s emergence as a coveror took everyone by surprise since TV5 had done more than above average in broadcasting sports events for the POC in the past. Why the reversal? 

Today is supposed to be the deadline for submitting the Gilas lineup to the Malaysian SEA Games Organizing Committee and Reyes is tasked with finalizing the cast. Can you imagine what he’s feeling with the prospect of the basketball coverage leaving TV5? Can you imagine what the MVP Group is feeling with this stab in the back after spending millions upon millions supporting the POC through its NSAs?

Someone whispered that in 1992, something similar happened when Gen. Rene Cruz was the POC president. The POC had supposedly signed an agreement for ABS-CBN to cover the 1993 SEA Games in Singapore but a call from Malacanang ordered a rescindment. ABS-CBN backed off and the rights went to another network.

Is it fair that TV5 is left out in the cold after getting an assurance of covering the coming SEA Games? Surely, something can be done to iron this crease. The POC isn’t heartless and the officers behind it are known to be men of their word. If PTV4 has to be involved, then it’s a matter of teaming up with TV5 to guarantee a comprehensive and professional broadcast. TV5’s reach, range of media platforms, facilities and depth of talent are far superior from what PTV4 can put on the table – that’s a fact which even the POC and PTV4 can’t deny. If there is political pressure in the equation and the POC is buckling, then why not figure out a compromise?