IBC-13, UFL sign 5-year deal to air football games

MANILA, Philippines - Fans of the beautiful game can soon catch the exciting fixtures of the United Football League’s new season every week on AKTV as the country’s premier football league and TV5’s primetime sports block on IBC 13 inked a five-year partnership Friday night.

TV5 president and CEO Ray Espinosa and EVP and COO Roberto Barreiro and Football Alliance chair Santi Araneta and president Randy Roxas formalized the exclusive deal that paves the way for the airing of two full UFL games every Saturday beginning Oct. 8.

“This a breakthrough in football development since we are assured of live coverage for five years on a weekly basis. So let’s support football,” said Espinosa.

He added that the games on AKTV will “not only highlight the UFL’s roster of talented teams players but also the league itself as an exciting spectator experience.”

For this, AKTV will utilize high-definition cameras and equipment to make the coverage at par with international sports broadcast and acquire a sports OB van equipped with multi-camera capabilities to fully capture the livewire action.

The formal contract-signing at E’s Bar at Edsa Shangri-La Hotel coincided with the UFL’s Draw Night for its Cup tournament, which is expected to get more exciting with the debut of Azkals Phil and James Younghusband and Angel Guirado.

The 28 participating sides were divided into seven groups, led by defending champion Global FC in Group C and league titlist Air Force in Group E.

Global of Fil-Spanish Guirado and Azkals teammate Misagh Bahadoran and last year’s top scorer Izzeldin Elhabbib is bracketed in a virtual “Group of Death” with two semifinalists in the recent PFF Smart Club Championships –Pachanga FC and Stalions FC – and Cebu Queen City FC.

Air Force of Chieffy Caligdong and Ian Araneta is bunched in an equally tough group with Armed Forces rival Phl Navy and Manila All-Japan FC and Laos FC.

Loyola Meralco Sparks of the Younghusbands and Mark and Matt Hartmann is with Internacionale FC, Agila FC and Team Socceroo FC in Group B while Kaya FC of Aly Borromeo, Anton del Rosario, Jason Sabio, Yannick Tuason and Nate Burkey is with ABC All Stars, Schwarz and Diliman Victory Liner in Group D.

Green Archers United FC leads Group F with Dolphins United, Pasargad and Forza.