Three Networks Quarrel Over Pacquiao-Hatton Fight TV Coverage

Pacquiao rescinded his contract for TV coverage in a letter he sent to Solar Sports last Wednesday.

His termination letter immediately drew reaction from the management of Solar Sports. Ralph Roy, Solar Sports Vice-President for operation and business development said, ‘Pacquiao has no reason to leave because we have settled our financial obligations to him’.

Solar is a block-timer TV network specializing in sports coverage in the country. The company made used of GMA Channel 7, a major TV network in the Philippines to broadcast the Pacquiao boxing fights.

ABS-CBN Broadcasting Network and GMA-7 are the two major TV stations in the Philippines. The two giant networks have figured in legal controversies concerning breach of contracts among entertainers and other matters related to their marketing and advertising efforts.

Yesterday, GMA-7 threatened to sue Manny Pacquiao and ABS-CBN, Inquirer.net reports

GMA Network, the country’s other “broadcast giant,” in a statement issued to media offices Thursday, expressed disappointment over Pacquiao’s recent decision to dump Solar Sports and seemed ready to take the boxing superstar to court.

The report added:

The network cited its contract with Pacquiao that bars the world’s pound-for-pound king from appearing in any other network outside of GMA-7.

In a televised interview yesterday, it seems that the decision was made by Manny Pacquiao without consulting his legal advisers. His lawyer, Atty. Gacal was quoted to have said that he was not aware of the Pacquiao announcement.

At the Wild Card Gym, it appeared that Pacquiao is not at all bothered by the controversy that this sudden announcement has created. Boxing fans feared that the legal issues concerning the business side of his boxing career might have some psychological bearing on his coming fight with Ricky Hatton of England on May 2, 2009 at the MGM Grand garden arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The still –out-of court legal controversy continues.