BIDDING to become the new home of the NCAA is not that easy.
While it’s down to two networks, TV5 and GMA 7, the league has yet to decide who will be its broadcast partner in its 96th season.
The NCAA Policy Board, composed of the member schools’ presidents and owners, ordered the Management Committee to come up with guidelines over the networks’ bid, according to a highly-reliable Malaya-Business Insight source.
“Iyong TV5 and GMA, ‘di ba dalawa na lang sila? Nag-draw up ang ManCom ng terms of reference. Again, ipinadala sa Policy Board for approval. Pagbalik noon, ipapapadala sa dalawang istasyon,” the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.
“Kailangan kasi apple-to-apple iyong pag-bid nila since bidding iyong mangyayari.”
TV5 and GMA finished their respective presentations to the Policy Board last Oct. 28 and the decision will likely be made on the third week of November or earlier.
“Tapos na sila mag-present pareho sa Policy Board. The NCAA ManCom was instructed by the Policy Board to come up with the terms of reference of the two major networks vying to be partners starting in Season 96,” the source said.
“Wala pang decision. Magsu-submit sila ng bid nila, siguro by third week of November, pagdating, io-open iyon sa harap nilang dalawa. Tapos, it will be evaluated, siguro within that same week, ia-award na ng Policy Board. Pero hindi natin masasabi. Baka mapaaga din.”
The country’s oldest collegiate league terminated its 10-year pact with ABS-CBN last September after the mass media giant’s franchise renewal application to operate for another 25 years was rejected by the House committee on legislative franchises via an overwhelming 70-11-2-1 vote last July 10.
ABS-CBN Sports, the sports division of the network, also closed last July 16.
The same source said last month that TV5, which served as the home of the NCAA from 2010 to 2012, has the inside track to become the league’s home anew.
Previously named Sports5/ESPN5, TV5’s sports arm, One Sports, has been showing PBA games since 2011 and NBA matches since late-July.
After its five-year contract with ABS-CBN expired last May 31, the UAAP inked a five-and-a-half year deal with Cignal TV last Oct. 23 to broadcast select events of the league via the One Sports channel.
