The National Collegiate Athletic Association will formally bring its 101st season to a close with a Closing Ceremony scheduled for June 15, also marking the end of the league’s five-year broadcast partnership with media giant GMA Network.
NCAA Season 101 Management Committee Chairman Melchor Divina of Mapúa expressed nothing but gratitude for GMA’s pivotal role in promoting and bringing the NCAA closer to audiences locally and internationally over the last half-decade, particularly during the challenging pandemic years.
The partnership between GMA and the NCAA began at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and spanned five seasons, covering seniors’ and juniors’ basketball as well as the men’s and women’s volleyball competitions.
The final game aired on a GMA platform was Colegio de San Juan de Letran’s Game 3 win over College of Saint Benilde, which marked the Lady Knights’ first NCAA women’s volleyball title in 27 years and snapped the Lady Blazers’ four-year reign.
“Okay din naman ang partnership with GMA. Actually, nung nagsimula sila, ginawa nila lahat ng bubble setup. Bubble lahat nung programa,” Divina said during the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum held at the PSC Media Room in Manila.
“Talagang yung GMA, ginawa nila ang lahat para ma-promote nang maganda yung NCAA. Taon-taon, nagbibigay sila ng new idea. Hindi naman sad to say, pero five years din.”
However, a rapidly changing media landscape prompted the NCAA to look beyond traditional broadcasting on free-to-air TV platforms. It suggests that the conclusion of the five-year partnership was driven by the ongoing shift in viewership habits and sponsorship challenges affecting free-to-air television.
Divina pointed out that the league’s fanbase had migrated from traditional broadcasts on GTV and the Heart of Asia to GMA’s online platforms, including social media pages and YouTube.
With audiences increasingly preferring mobile and on-demand viewing over traditional television, Divina and the rest of the NCAA Management Committee recognized the need to adapt.
“Iba na yung ano ng mga viewers ‘eh, hindi na siya sa Free TV. Sa YouTube, sa Facebook, at sa social media. Siyempre, yung mga company like GMA, umaasa rin sila doon sa mga sponsor,” Divina explained.
“Gaya ngayon, kung marami ang nanonood sa Youtube at sa Facebook, doon sa free TV, wala na masyado. We think wala na, kaya siguro naghahanap kami ng ibang way kung paano sila masusupportahan yung NCAA na hindi gagamit ng Free TV,” he added.
Before the Closing Ceremony on June 15, the NCAA still has a robust lineup of remaining sporting events for Season 101 scheduled from April until June, all of which will be held as demonstration events.
Currently underway is the Aerobic Gymnastics Tournament, which will run from April 6 to May 31 under the management of the Jose Rizal University Management Committee.
The Boxing Tournament is scheduled for May 12 to 14, with the Arellano University Management Committee overseeing the demonstration event.
Under the supervision of San Beda University Management Committee representative Atty. Jonas Cabochan, the Golf Tournament will tee off on May 20 at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club, featuring San Beda, Benilde, University of Perpetual Help, JRU, EAC, Arellano, and guest school University of Asia and the Pacific.
Other events include the new 15-under Basketball Aspirants Tournament, weightlifting, and esports.
