The Abante-Bilyonaryo Group has intensified its pursuit of the NCAA’s next television rights, promising to make the country’s oldest collegiate league the centerpiece of its sports programming if awarded the broadcast deal.
Following its presentation before the NCAA Policy Board, ABG First Vice-President Jacque M. Ruby outlined the network’s long-term vision of dedicating all of its sports resources exclusively to the league.
“The NCAA will be our sole sports property. That means our production resources, promotional efforts, programming support and digital initiatives will be fully dedicated to growing the NCAA brand, its member schools and its student-athletes,” Ruby said.
ABG’s proposal comes as the NCAA searches for a new broadcast partner after the expiration of its five-year television agreement with GMA.
Among the commitments highlighted by the network is a significant investment in production quality, with Ruby saying ABG is ready to assemble an experienced broadcast team while also developing the next generation of sports production professionals.
“We are prepared to make significant investments in production from day one by bringing together the best people in the industry while developing young talents who can help elevate NCAA coverage for years to come,” he said.
With the NCAA basketball tournament set to tip off in September, ABG said it is ready to immediately deploy the necessary broadcast resources to ensure uninterrupted coverage if it secures the rights.
Ruby revealed that the network plans to initially lease high-end broadcast equipment to guarantee a smooth launch before rolling out a larger infrastructure investment.
“Given the proximity of the season opening, it is imperative that we initially lease high-quality equipment to ensure we can deliver a first-class broadcast from Day One,” he said.
He added that the leasing strategy is only temporary, as ABG aims to establish a dedicated production facility equipped with state-of-the-art technology solely for NCAA broadcasts.
“Our long-term vision is to build a dedicated NCAA production infrastructure equipped with state-of-the-art technology that will be used exclusively for NCAA coverage,” Ruby added.
Beyond television, ABG also pledged extensive digital and social media support, year-round storytelling initiatives, and free-to-air coverage designed to expand the league’s reach and strengthen fan engagement.
The media group is likewise developing an international distribution strategy through its overseas partners, targeting Filipino communities, NCAA alumni, and collegiate sports fans around the world.
ABG also underscored its digital footprint, citing billions of views and millions of engagements generated across its platforms since last year.
The network formally presented its proposal to NCAA officials during the league’s Policy Board meeting on June 9 at the Philippine Columbian Association.
A week later, both Cignal and ABS-CBN informed the NCAA of their intention to bid for the television rights, with Cignal making its formal presentation on June 20.
ABG was the first network group to publicly express interest in becoming the NCAA’s next broadcast partner as the league enters a new cycle for its media rights.
