Major TV network rivals agree on joint telecast of Pacquiao-Matthysse

Published 4:50 PM, May 24, 2018

Updated 4:50 PM, May 24, 2018

ABS-CBN, GMA, IBC, TV5, Cignal and Sky Cable team up to broadcast what may be the fighting senator’s farewell bout

'FREE TV. More Filipinos will get to watch the July 15 bout between Manny Pacquiao and Lucas Matthysse. Photo by Mohd Rasfan/AFP'

MANILA, Philippines – Six of the country’s top TV networks have officially teamed up for a simultaneous broadcast of the July 15 bout between Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and Argentine Lucas Matthysse.

ABS-CBN, GMA, IBC, TV5, Cignal and Sky Cable have agreed to a multi-network partnership to air the “Fight of Champions” where Pacquiao and Matthysse will face off for the World Boxing Association welterweight belt at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“In response to the clamor of boxing fans, we want to make sure that the whole world gets to watch and experience this epic fight,” Arnold Vegafria, the head of sales and marketing of Pacquiao’s MP Promotions, said during the contract signing in Tomas Morato on Thursday, May 24.

"By airing the fight on a multi-platform basis, we can ensure that Filipino sports fans can have quick and easy access to a wide selection of channels available within their reach.”

Present at the contract signing were ABS-CBN’s Group CFO Rolando Valdueza, GMA Network VP for entertainment Redgie Magno, IBC finance manager and CFO Dave Fugoso, ESPN5.com’s managing editor Sid Ventura, Sky Cable president Antonio Ventosa and Cignal TV channel manager Miguel Vea.

Pacquiao had hinted of retirement, saying the outcome of his bout against Matthysse will likely determine whether he will hang up his gloves. – Rappler.com