Solar takes the sun out of the Sunny World Cup
Solar Sports announcement that it will air the World Cup games on Philippine TV, was viewed as a "Godsend" to the sport in a country dominated by NBA.
However, that "Godsend" has turned into something else when the broadcast giant decided to ask PPV fees for those who want to view the games live -- sending a knockout blow to the sport.
In a country where basketball dominated, the world cup could have generated enough interest to spur grassroots development.
However, because of the decision of Solar, the same company, who calls their boxing coverages "live" while bombarding viewers with 10-minute commercials during the two-minute break between rounds, people now really think that football is for the rich folks.
Thank you very much Solar sports.
You will be one of the pall bearer for Philippine football.
However, that "Godsend" has turned into something else when the broadcast giant decided to ask PPV fees for those who want to view the games live -- sending a knockout blow to the sport.
In a country where basketball dominated, the world cup could have generated enough interest to spur grassroots development.
However, because of the decision of Solar, the same company, who calls their boxing coverages "live" while bombarding viewers with 10-minute commercials during the two-minute break between rounds, people now really think that football is for the rich folks.
Thank you very much Solar sports.
You will be one of the pall bearer for Philippine football.
Comments
seriously, Solar Sports should stop thinking about the fees they could collect from households who can afford their subscription or the expats who has extra cash to burn. those who can spend 3-4 thousand a month for football lessons are a minority in the football community. a huge majority of fans and players don't have the money.
here is a suggestion.
the CebuFA should approach SkyCable and request, at the very least, for a free box at the barangay halls of San Roque, Mandaue, the barangay where the MEPZ field is located, the barangay where the USC Talamban Campus is, and the barangay hall at Sambag, Cebu. If i'm not mistaken, these barangays already have a TV and a free line from SkyCable (my barangay officials said this is true for all Cebu barangays). the four barangays above are football hotspots. the players living there cannot afford the php4,600.00 subscription nor the 300-500pesos drinks at the hotels.
i don't think SkyCable will lose much. they can only gain goodwill by doing so. we are just talking about 4 boxes or an equivalent of php18,400.00.
perhaps CebuFA could take the initiative and contact the football leaders of these barangays. together with the barangay officials, they could make the request together. the grown up players watching live and the children watching the replays after school would be a better alternative than having them go to internet cafes and play games.
watching at barangay halls is the cheapest and safest way to experience the world cup. parents would feel safe knowing that their children would be watching within the confines of a controlled environment, while the adults watching live matches would do so without any alcohol present (additional walay gasto.)
which leads me to ask, what is ricky dakay, cebu's annointed football godfather, doing this world cup. he is afterall close to tom osmena (who also has links with skycable). murang hilom man.
mike mentioned he'll proposed it to maximo. but it would be best if dakay and maximo (being the football leaders,) along with barangay officials and football leaders in the barangays, be the ones to make the request to skycable for such a connection. a request from an ordinary fan won't do. i do hope it will be made possible by the time the knockout stages are played.
Im just freaking tired,