THE BATTLE between the ABS-CBN Corporation and the National Telecommunications Commission hit its crescendo on May 5 when the latter issued a cease and desist order against the former. The expiration of the broadcasting contract between the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and ABS-CBN Sports + Action (S+A) shortly followed on May 31. To add to the network’s list of worries, S+A itself was also shut down on August 31.

A trusted partner for 20 years, ABS-CBN’s role in making the UAAP what it is today cannot be ignored. Despite this storied partnership, the restrictions that besiege ABS-CBN and its expired broadcasting contract with the UAAP have left the league and its athletes hanging in the balance. With ABS-CBN’s hands bound, it is due time the UAAP bid adieu to its coverage partner of two decades.

The Kapamilya era

The ABS-CBN network has shaped the growth and development of the UAAP in substantial ways. For UAAP Season 82 President Emmanuel Fernandez, ABS-CBN provided the league with a platform to broadcast more UAAP sports. “We [UAAP and ABS-CBN] grew together, in terms of what was being seen on TV,” he stated.

Aside from broadcasting games, ABS-CBN’s impact on the UAAP manifests in the opportunities they provided to the league’s athletes— as evidenced by former Queen Eagle Alyssa Valdez in her interview with The GUIDON Sports. The volleyball star highlighted how valuable ABS-CBN’s support was in her long-term formation and growth. “Lumaki talaga ako na natulungan na ako ng ABS-CBN (I grew up with ABS-CBN helping me), not just in volleyball, but in life also,” she shared.

While generations of athletes may have benefitted from ABS-CBN’s support, this might not be the case in the near future. The restrictions imposed on the network may curb the development of the UAAP’s student-athletes. Media exposure is key in the collegiate sports industry—and the network’s absence on television severely limits student-athletes’ future opportunities. Thus, those yearning to learn and grow from stints—such as Valdez having commentated for the UAAP and National Collegiate Athletic Association volleyball leagues—may be disappointed as their chances to learn may be limited in an online setup.

While a partnership with ABS-CBN through the years has been fruitful for the UAAP, the league’s past history with the network should not decide the UAAP’s future. With the denial of ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal, the UAAP should begin to explore broadcasting partnerships with other networks.

UAAP after ABS-CBN: Quo vadis?

While one cannot contest ABS-CBN’s legacy in the sporting world, there exists a palpable line between the network’s past feats and present capabilities. The exit of ABS-CBN from free-to-air television spells the difference for the league in the seasons to come. Given the limited broadcasting services that ABS-CBN can offer, the UAAP would see a definitive collapse in viewership should it consider retaining their partnership. From hereon after, the television giant can no longer serve the UAAP the way it used to.

“At the end of the day, UAAP will exist. UAAP is not tied to ABS-CBN,” said Fernandez. “Gagawin at gagawin ng UAAP kung kailangan niya for the games to be shown on TV, to look for a partner to produce the games on free TV. Kasi iyon ang trabaho ng UAAP eh, kailangan gawin iyon (The UAAP will relentlessly find a way for the games to be shown on TV, to look for a partner to produce the games on free TV. Because that’s the UAAP’s job, it has to be done),” he expounded.  

The possibility of a renewed partnership with ABS-CBN is certainly still viable if certain conditions are met. Before a partnership with any network can be delved into, the league must explicitly state the necessity of access to the free air. Nationwide free television access to the UAAP ensures the continued strengthening of its national presence and viewership.

With the UAAP and ABS-CBN’s partnership hanging by a thread, the opportune moment of being the league’s next media partner is open. Among the UAAP’s long-running list of suitors is TV5’s One Sports, which was recently relaunched in an attempt to rebrand and extend TV5’s sports coverage. The newly minted sports network is home to leagues such as the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the Phillipine Superliga (PSL), and most recently, the National Basketball Association (NBA) games. The network’s latest move to relaunch its sports arm affirms its commitment to deliver highly-anticipated sporting events to all sports enthusiasts.

Impressive track records aside, One Sports’s obvious edge over ABS-CBN is their current rights to televise nationally on free TV—something incredibly valuable to the UAAP. “Cable is good, online [platform] is good, but still, hindi siya (it’s not) free TV,” said Fernandez. Thus, the prospect of online platforms with ABS-CBN is nullified by the possibility of having both online platforms and free television broadcasting with another network.

By having unhindered access to all media platforms, networks like One Sports have the tools needed to widen the UAAP’s audience. Although the exit of ABS-CBN leaves large shoes for other networks to fill, it seems that One Sports is more than qualified to take the former’s seat on the throne.

The show must go on

Despite the crucial role ABS-CBN had on the UAAP’s development, the government-mandated restrictions that plague the network’s broadcasting services signal that the league must seek out another media partner. While most remain to speak in fond memory of ABS-CBN’s 20-year run, the UAAP cannot afford to let any prevailing sentiment get in the way of their final decision. 

At the end of the day, the league must provide its athletes and audiences the best platform for growth and entertainment. Lest ABS-CBN is able to meet the league’s lone requisite to air matches on free television, the UAAP will need to name a new broadcasting partner for the sake of its member-universities, athletes, and fans.