Solar Sports, which owns the exclusive television broadcast rights to boxing fights Manny Pacquiao, almost denied the city government of General Santos live feed to his November 24 bout with Brandon Rios.
This after the previous administration reportedly failed to pay P350,000 for the coverage of the Pacquiao-Marquez fight in December 2012 which was shown live at the city-owned Lagao Gymnasium.
City Administrator Arnel Zapatos said they have no knowledge about the failure of the city government to pay its obligation to Solar Sports.
He said Solar Sports will provide them copy of the contract that the city government reportedly signed with the cable company by next week.
Solar Sports has been carrying Pacquiao fights since 2006.
?We have not seen any document of that contract (Pacquiao-Marquez live feed),? Zapatos said.
Zapatos said Solar Sports earlier refused to provide live feed of the Pacquiao-Rios fight until the outstanding account is settled and paid.
Former city mayor Darlene Antonino Custodio did not reply to inquiry made through her mobile phone unit.
Custodio lost in the May 2013 election to Mayor Ronnel Rivera, a political ally of Pacquiao.
But the office of Rep. Manny Pacquiao reportedly interceded and asked Solar to grant the city government live coverage and allow residents free viewing of the comeback fight of the Filipino boxing icon.
Live feed for the Rios fight will be available.Pic by Edwin Espejo
As a result, the city government and Solar had already reached agreement for the airing of the Pacquiao-Rios fight live.
But instead of holding the live feed at the Lagao Gym, the city government will be using the covered court at the Oval Plaza where a huge LED television screen will be installed.
Zapatos said, the gym has been booked for a 2-day affair of the Jehovah?s Witness before the Pacquiao fight was announced.
The city administrator also said huge TV screens will also be set up in some heavily populated barangays to allow more residents to watch the fight of Pacquiao.
