Viva Sports on IBC confirmed as Philippine broadcaster for Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016

20 January 2014

January 20 - Viva Sports on the broadcasting television network IBC-13, has been confirmed as the sole Philippine broadcaster of both the Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games in a move set to bring unprecedented coverage of both events.

The deal, which will also incorporate the Summer Youth Olympic Games to be held in Nanjing in August, will include online and mobile as well as television platforms. "This is wonderful news for Philippine sports fans," commented IBC President and chief executive Boots Anson-Roa.

"Sporting events has been the number one programme that unites all people in our country." "That's why we are excited to bring to them the biggest sporting event with the best athletes from all over the world,"

Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz leads the Philippines delegation at the Opening Ceremony of London 2012 ©Getty Images

This announcement follows the large number of other international broadcasting deals announced in recent weeks as even greater exposure is sought for the highest profile events in sport. The coverage will begin next month with the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, where the Philippines will be represented at a Winter Games for the first time in 22 years when figure skater Michael Martinez takes to the ice.

The 18-year old finished an impressive fifth at the 2013 World Junior Championships and qualified for Sochi with a seventh place at the Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany last September.

Competing alongside Martinez will be two Philippine born athletes now competing for other nations, Canadian speed skater Gilmore Junio, and United States short-track speed skater JR Celski.

Celski won two World Championship titles in 2009 and will be targeting similar success in Sochi.

The Philippines will have plenty more chances at the Youth Olympics before they aim to build on their nine all time medals, and win an elusive first gold, at the Summer Olympics in Rio, where coverage will include the nation's favourite sports of basketball, taekwondo, volleyball, badminton and boxing.

Philippine-born speed skater JR Celski will lead the US charge in Sochi ©Getty Images

Meanwhile, one of Viva Sports on IBC's commercial rivals in the Philippines with the UHF news channel IBC News Network (INN) which has been the sports coverage willfeature local and international sporting events, programmed from news, current affairs, public service, business and documentaries.

ABS-CBN Corp, has announced a new Sports+Action Channel to further take advantage of the growing demand for sports coverage. The new channel will feature local and international sporting events, as well as action movies foreign shows and news programmes.

This is set to include local boxing and football matches, as well as coverage of international events including the National Basketball Association league in the US and the FIFA World Cup in Brazil this summer.