Solar, ABS-CBN, GMA, TV5 to air Mayweather-Pacquiao bout

MANILA, Philippines – For the first time ever, the country’s major networks are joining forces to broadcast the richest fight in boxing history.

Executives of Solar Sports, ABS-CBN, GMA and TV5 announced that they will air on free TV the massive bout between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.  – dubbed “Battle for Greatness” – on May 2 (May 3 Manila time).

The announcement was made in a media conference Thursday at the Solaire Resort and Casino in Pasay City, and officials of the networks are united in saying that Filipinos deserve to enjoy “this momentous occasion” in Philippine sports.

“To make this [broadcast partnership] possible, there were many sleepless nights,” said Solar president Wilson Tieng, who was joined by other fellow network executives Mike Enriquez (GMA), Chot Reyes (TV5) and Dino Laurena (ABS-CBN) in the press conference.

Pacquiao himself briefly joined the presser from Los Angeles via Skype, expressing delight for the development and thanking Solar for spearheading the partnership.

“Manny himself took a great part in making this possible,” Tieng added.

While Solar, ABS-CBN, GMA and TV5 will air the fight simultaneously on free TV starting at 10 a.m. on Sunday (May 3), the radio blow-by-blow coverage will be exclusive to GMA’s DZBB.

Meanwhile, the pay-per-view telecast will be handled by Sky Cable and Cignal TV and will start earlier. The fight card will likewise be shown on PPV at SM Cinemas.

Cignal’s Oscar Reyes said they will be charging Php2,000 for the PPV subscription.

It was reported that Solar acquired the fight's Philippine broadcast rights from US promoters for $10 million.