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ABS-CBN coverage of the UAAP

Filipino sports television broadcasts From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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ABS-CBN coverage of the UAAP refers to the television and digital broadcasts of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) games by ABS-CBN Sports. ABS-CBN was the exclusive media partner of the UAAP from 2000 until 2020, when the network ceased free-to-air operations due to its franchise expiration.

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Throughout its tenure, ABS-CBN covered key UAAP sports such as men's and women's basketball, volleyball, football, softball, and others, primarily through its channels Studio 23 and ABS-CBN Sports and Action (S+A).

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History

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2000s

In 2000, the UAAP board was unsatisfied with how previous network SilverStar Sports handled the coverage. They opened bidding to the coverage rights, which ABS-CBN Sports won. ABS-CBN Sports won the rights to broadcast the games for five years, which they broadcast on Studio 23.[1] Silverstar took ABS-CBN to court over the UAAP rights, but the case was dismissed.[2] ABS-CBN began its coverage of the UAAP on July 15, the opening of Season 63.[3] They brought new ideas and innovation to their coverage, such as the use of crane cameras, and introduced student courtside reporters.[4][5] ABS-CBN also hyped up rivalries like Ateneo–La Salle's to get more people to watch the games.[6][7] In 2002, they organized the UAAP NCAA All-Star Game for charity.[8]

By 2005, they had been recognized for their coverage with two Catholic Mass Media Awards.[9] Before the start of Season 68, the UAAP and ABS-CBN Sports successfully renegotiated for another five-year contract.[10] Worth ₱65 million, the contract required the network to provide men’s and women’s basketball games full coverage, while other sports such as the men’s and women’s volleyball, football, and badminton championships were to be given airtime.[1]

With the rights set to expire on March 31, 2010, bidding was made open for the rights to broadcast the UAAP.[11] GMA and Solar Entertainment each made bids for the rights.[12] ABS-CBN then introduced high definition broadcasting beginning with the UAAP's basketball games for Season 72.[13] It also began expanding the UAAP's digital reach with its own video on demand website.[14] Right before the second game of the Season 72 finals, the UAAP announced that Studio 23’s contract was renewed for another five years.[1]

2010s

The UAAP continued its growth on Studio 23, as it kept experiencing high ratings.[15] In 2013, the women's volleyball match between the Ateneo Blue Eagles and De La Salle Green Archers drew a 2.7 rating, the second-best rated UAAP program on the network since ABS-CBN Sports took over as the league’s broadcaster.[16][17]

On January 18, 2014, ABS-CBN Sports + Action (S+A) was launched, replacing Studio 23. This allowed ABS-CBN to focus more on their sports programming, such as the UAAP.[18] In 2019, ABS-CBN S+A began airing UAAP juniors' basketball games. They had previously only aired the finals of the UAAP juniors.[19]

2020s

On March 15, 2020 the UAAP was forced to cancel the rest of Season 82 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the community quarantine measures imposed in Metro Manila.[20] This made ABS-CBN S+A show re-runs of old UAAP basketball and volleyball games. The UAAP and ABS-CBN tried to negotiate on an extension of their deal, however, ABS-CBN's franchise expired, delaying extension talks.[21] On May 5, 2020, ABS-CBN S+A went off air.[22] On July 16, 2020, ABS-CBN Sports officially shut down, and their employees were let go.[23] A few months later, the UAAP was able to find a new broadcast partner in Cignal TV.[24]

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List of broadcasters

Final on-air staff

Notable past on-air staff

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UAAP coverage on other ABS-CBN-owned outlets

ABS-CBN 2

Due to the UAAP's growing popularity, there were times when ABS-CBN 2 would air UAAP basketball games, such as the finals.[55]

Balls

Balls was a cable television channel that launched in 2007. Although it mostly aired international sporting events, it was also used to air UAAP games.[56] In 2015, it ceased airing.[57]

TFC

In 2014, ABS-CBN announced that ABS-CBN TFC would air all of the UAAP's games for Filipinos abroad.[58]

Liga

In 2018, ABS-CBN launched Liga, a cable television channel that showed live UAAP games, beginning with Season 80, as well as classic games from as early as Season 70.[59]

iWant

In 2019, iWant, the streaming service of ABS-CBN, launched iWant Sports, which allowed users to stream UAAP games and shows.[60]

See also

References

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