The National Collegiate Athletic Association has chosen to blaze a trail.
After months of courting from both TV5 and GMA 7, the Grand Old League has chosen to become a Kapuso.
League insiders have confirmed to Tiebreaker Times this development that was first reported by Spin.ph.
Though TV5’s financial offering was much more lucrative than that of GMA 7, the 96-year-old league saw the appeal in the promise of being the “crown jewel” of the soon-to-be-launched GMA Sports.
Chairman Felipe Gozon himself headed its presentation committee.
Moreover, GMA 7 gave NCAA what it sought for — weekend games and its Finals being aired on the main channel of GMA.
“Hindi mabigay ng Singko ‘yun kasi may UAAP na sila,” said one of the sources, who requested anonymity.
Potential advertisers also played a part in the closing of the deal that will be announced on Friday.
If the NCAA went to TV5, it will be just like in ABS-CBN all over again since it would, of course, prioritize the more glamorous UAAP.
GMA’s marketing team guaranteed to the league’s Policy Board that they will be their priority.
With this, the war between the NCAA and the UAAP is on.
The NCAA’s 96th season is set to open come the second quarter of 2021.
