ABS-CBN scored for non-coverage of NC games

MANILA, Philippines - The NCAA yesterday said it will now offer the rights to telecast the NCAA games to other networks starting this year., disappoined over ABS-CBN decision not to telecast Wednesday’s games.

“Our five-year contract with ABS-CBN expires next year but we’ll start negotiating this year,” said league president and San Beda rector Fr. Mat de Jesus, OSB, in a statement.

The league expressed its disappointment over ABS-CBN’s decision to cancel the telecast of the NCAA games that pitted San Beda versus Angeles U Foundation and Letran against Emilio Aguinaldo last Wednesday to give way for the coverage of the late President Cory Aquino’s funeral.

The network also cancelled the airing of the NCAA games last month during President Arroyo’s annual State of the Nation Address.

While admitting that the two events were of national importance, the NCAA argued that the least the network could have done was to air the games on a delayed basis.

“Personally, the President Cory Aquino event carried national importance,” said de Jesus. “However, ABS-CBN and Studio 23 could have aired the games on a delayed basis for the schools and fans alike.

“It’s one thing to give way once in a while to a national event and it’s another thing to completely disregard scheduled games without even a delayed telecast,” said de Jesus.

“There’s some imbalance here,” he said. – Joey Villar