A man wearing a mask walks pasta makeshift memorial outside the headquarters of broadcast network ABS-CBN on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 in Manila, Philippines. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
MANILA, Philippines—The sports division of ABS-CBN is shutting down following the House of Representatives’ denial of a franchise renewal for the network giant.
The network announced Wednesday that it will cease operation of some its businesses and will begin the retrenchment of workers starting August 31.
ABS-CBN Sports was home to the top collegiate leagues UAAP and NCAA for the past decades. From just airing the basketball games, the network also gave exposure to several other sports like volleyball and football, among others, through the years.
It was also the broadcast partner of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, Premier Volleyball League, and ONE Championship.
Dino Laurena, the head of ABS-CBN Integrated Sports, confirmed the development on his Facebook account.
“The final buzzer,” wrote Laurena. “So ends this journey… I made the painful announcement to our beloved Sports team today. I’ve been on this road before, and I can assure you, it is not something I will swear even on people I don’t like. It is heart-wrenchingly painful.”
Several personalities working ABS-CBN Sports and Action spoke of their heartbreak on social media.
That's it. ABS-CBN Sports officially signs off. Love you fam @abscbnsports thank you for everything.
Photos from @moki_doki pic.twitter.com/LP8ESDxANf
— Gretchen Ho (@gretchenho) July 16, 2020
“That’s it. ABS-CBN Sports officially signs off. Love you fam @abscbnsports thank you for everything,” said Gretchen Ho on Twitter.
This is heart breaking. I will forever be grateful to ABS-CBN Sports. Volleyball won’t be the same. Life won’t be the same. Thank you for everything @abscbnsports. Keeping the @abscbnsports family in my prayers. https://t.co/0jnt0zhgUV
— Dennise Lazaro (@denniselazaro) July 16, 2020
“This is heartbreaking. I will forever be grateful to ABS-CBN Sports. Volleyball won’t be the same. Life won’t be the same. Thank you for everything @abscbnsports. Keeping the @abscbnsports family in my prayers,” said Denden Lazaro.
Both Lazaro and Ho were Ateneo volleyball standouts in the UAAP. They turned into household names as their games were broadcasted through ABS-CBN’s youth-oriented channel Channel 23 that eventually became S&A.
https://twitter.com/migsbustos/status/1283693436097269760
My heart cries out to ABSCBN Sports 💔 goodbye… hopefully, for now 🙏🏻 https://t.co/tWgQseSh26
— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) July 16, 2020
It is unclear yet what will happen to ABS-CBN’s partnerships with the likes of the MPBL, NCAA and PVL, who are expected to resume competition sometime in the future. The NCAA had said that is exploring other broadcast options with the network, which still has digital properties.