TV5 broadens program union with ESPN

Rhosedel Grace P. Gabac | February 6, 2018

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The unitedly launching of new products, along with a subscription streaming service of TV5 Network Incorporation, the television broadcast arm of telecommunications giant PLDT Incorporation, and multimedia sports entertainment company ESPN Incorporation took effect last January 31.

Through their cobranding partnership ESPN5, the new offers encompass ESPN5-branded editions of ESPN.com and ESPN Player, a sports streaming platform.

The progress is the most recent in the collaboration between TV5 and ESPN, which was first announced in October last year. The long-term compliance was aimed at boosting earnings for TV5, Vincent “Chot” Reyes, president of TV5, said.

In announcing new products, Reyes acclaimed that ESPN5 would highlight more local sports content.

“The launch of our new cobranded digital multisports products for Philippine sports fans showcases our digital leadership and offers sports fans outstanding news, features and video experiences around top sports of interest to Filipino sports fans,” Joyee Biswas, head of Southeast Asia for ESPN, said.

Reyes had said that TV5 was pivoting into more sports and news-related content.

The union with ESPN consists of more than 2,500 hours of programming a year from ESPN’s sports rights, original and studio programs.

The feature on sports and news would also support the TV5 group control costs and in some way post a profit by 2019.