ABS-CBN’S sports production department will cease operations after the non-renewal of the giant network’s franchise, SPIN.ph learned on Thursday.
The network announced on Wednesday that it will implement a retrenchment program on some of its businesses effective August 31, 2020 after Congress denied the network’s request for a renewal of its franchise.
Apparently, the network’s sports arm – ABS-CBN S+A – is part of the operations that will cease as the embattled media giant begins the painful process of retrenching staff.
ABS-CBN Sports head Dino Laurena confirmed the development on his personal Facebook account on Thursday, saying the network's sports team will be dissolved.
“And so ends this journey. I made the painful announcement to our beloved Sports team today. I've been on this road before and I can assure you, it is not something I will swear even on people I don't like. It is heart-wrenchingly painful,” wrote Laurena.
More than 70 employees including talents such as commentators are expected to be affected by the closure of ABS-CBN S+A, SPIN.ph learned.
It is not yet clear how the decision will affect the status of ABS-CBN Sports’ properties in the UAAP, NCAA, MPBL, and the Premier Volleyball League, whose games were aired on Channel 23 for several years.
The UAAP, ABS-CBN Sports’ premier product, has been with the giant network since 2000, reaching greater heights not just in terms of viewership but also financially.
However, the 2019 season was the final year of ABS-CBN’s most recent contract with the UAAP, which said negotiations on a new contract are still ongoing.
The NCAA, in the meantime, signed a 10-year deal with ABS-CBN in 2015, airing not just the basketball games but the volleyball matches as well.
The MPBL had a blocktime agreement with ABS-CBN Sports since its inception. The last deal ended last May and commissioner Kenneth Duremdes said it is now looking for other options after the network’s franchise was not renewed.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph