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| (Image Source: CNN Philippines) |
For more than 20 years, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) has enjoyed phenomenal traction and popularity in and out of the country with ABS-CBN as its long-time broadcast partner. The solid and strong partnership between the two parties led to the growing popularity of collegiate basketball, the steady resurgence of volleyball in the country, and many popular collegiate athletes becoming household names after their UAAP stint. However, the changing landscape in the Philippine television scene pushed the UAAP to search for a new home and, fortunately, it did.
Throughout the course of the said landscape, the UAAP forced to wrap up its 82nd season due to the continuing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country where strict health protocols and safety measures prevent huge mass gatherings, including sporting events, to take place. ABS-CBN's absence from free TV leading to the temporary closure of the network's sports arm has placed the league in a different situation while struggling to find ways in making the next season safe and enjoyable. As the country's economy and tourism slowly reopened due to the easing of health and safety restrictions in different parts of the country, the most popular collegiate sports league in the country has managed to find a new home for its next season and the foreseeable future.
On October 23, 2020, the UAAP has formally announced that it has forged a multi-year broadcast partnership deal with TV5 Network Inc. and Cignal TV, the leading pay TV provider in the country, which will begin on the beginning of its 83rd season and is set to last for 5 1/2 years. This puts the league as the newest addition to TV5's growing list of local and international sports properties which include PBA, Philippine Superliga, The Nationals and ONE Championship among others. Through the newly-forged partnership, select UAAP games will be aired live and exclusive on One Sports (free TV channel 41, Cignal channel 6, SKYcable channel 59) utilizing the technical and production expertise of TV5 as well as the network's tried-and-tested experience in collegiate sports broadcasting with the Filoil Flying V PreSeason Cup.
Although details for when will the 83rd season commence are yet to be announced, aspiring professional athletes and collegiate sports stars are sure to have themselves showcasing their prowess and reaching their own potential on a new platform with a wider reach and strong expertise in delivering its own brand of sports coverage across various platforms. I have high hopes on the UAAP-Cignal/TV5 partnership and am praying that it gains the same strong traction as that when it was on ABS-CBN for more than two decades. The Philippines' most popular collegiate sports league has found a new home and it is likely one slated to be reckoned with.
