For the first time in two decades, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines has chosen a new partner to broadcast its games.
Cignal TV and SMART Communications have joined forces to bring the UAAP to the next level.
“Our joint venture with the UAAP goes beyond being an official broadcast partner. Together with providing a superior viewing experience for all sports fans nationwide, we have put in place plans to help further grow the league and its athletes — giving more depth to our partnership,” said Cignal president Robert Galang during the official signing between his company, Smart and Cignal.
“We are confident that this undertaking will inspire and revitalize our countrymen who have such a deep affinity for sports. From the Cignal team, and the rest of the MVP group, it is with great pleasure that we welcome the UAAP, and we are extremely excited to begin our partnership.”
“Our partnership with UAAP opens a lot of groundbreaking opportunities to further expand the digital footprint of the country’s biggest collegiate league while we leverage on the strength of our SMART LTE and 5G networks to give viewers an amazing mobile streaming experience. Through the power of digital technology, we hope to inspire more Filipino youth to discover and cultivate their passion for sports and strive for excellence,” added Smart CEO Al Panlilio.
UAAP, Cignal, and SMART will be together for five years, starting in Season 84.
Free-to-air channel One will air the opening and closing ceremony, men’s basketball, women’s volleyball, and cheerdance competitions.
The finals of the men’s football, high school basketball, women’s football, women’s basketball, men’s football, badminton, baseball, and softball will also be aired.
Highlights and features of the other sports will also be aired in the group’s various networks.
A radio broadcast will also be given courtesy of Radyo Singko.
“I’m very happy that this event has finally come to pass. After a long process of going over the different offers the UAAP received. I think that one of the important factors why the UAAP chose Cignal and SMART is that we agreed that it won’t only air the athletic programs of the UAAP but also the underlying values of the league which are amateurism and integration of our student-athletes.
“It’s an important factor in the competition that Cignal and SMART will be sponsoring. We look forward to post-COVID sports and again when we can meet face-to-face and compete as sportspersons and bring about the full development of our student-athletes and our students,” said La Salle president Br. Raymundo Suplido FSC.
