MANILA, Philippines – The live telecast of the Philippine Azkals’ three matches in the group stage of the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup in Myanmar is in jeopardy after the Rangoon government denied the request of ABS-CBN to bring in cameras to broadcast the games.
Myanmar will only allow foreign broadcast groups to tap into the government telecast but this too has not been approved at presstime with only two days left before the Azkals face the hosts in game one of the Challenge Cup.
An ABS-CBN officer confirmed that it has yet to get the approval of Myanmar’s information ministry for the live feed of the tournament.
The Philippines is competing for one of two qualifying berths for the tournament’s main draw scheduled in 2012.
The Azkals take on hosts Myanmar on Monday, Palestine on Wednesday, Bangladesh on Friday.
“We’re still waiting for permit from the information ministry. Mahigpit kasi yung junta sa live telecast,” said Diana Sayson, an ABS-CBN producer. “Walang TV coverage ang news kasi bawal magdala ng camera. We are coordinating with the Myanmar Football Federation.”
Media is strictly controlled in Myanmar which filters bad news, criticisms, report of natural disasters and sometimes enforces a news blackout whenever the national football team loses, according to the British Broadcasting Corporation’s country profile.
Another problem facing ABS-CBN, which will broadcast the games on Studio 23, is that even if it gets the green light from Myanmar to tap into its government station, it may not still be able to air the games live on March 23 and 25 because the schedule of the football matches, set at 5 p.m. (Manila time), conflict with timeslots of the PBA games which are scheduled every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday set around the same time.
“Maybe, mag-live muna sa Balls (cable channel also owned by ABS-CBN) for the two playdates,” Sayson said. “Malabo mag-give way ang PBA. It’s like apples and oranges.”
The Philippine Football Federation and ABS-CBN forged a deal early this year allowing the TV station to cover all Azkals games in the Challenge Cup.
Studio 23 aired the Azkals’ home-and-away pre-qualifying series against Mongolia held in Bacolod City and Ulan Bator, Mongolia.
Under the contract, the Azkals get P500,000 share for every coverage of the games on local soil against an international opponent while P250,000 whenever the games are played abroad.
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