IF you’ve read Erwin Oliva’s article, then you know that Filipino IPTV company neTVision has been forced to cancel its live stream of the Manny Pacquiao-Marco Antonio Barrera rematch for its Middle East subscribers.
That this had to happen is already tragic, but what’s worse is that neTVision has been forced to do this just days before the fight. Ok, disclaimer: INQUIRER.net is an event partner of neTVision for the webcast, so I do have a vested interest. But I think many Filipino boxing fans will agree that this is a sad development.
And all for what? Because HBO got scared?
Here’s an excerpt from Erwin’s article:
neTVision president Axel Kornerup said HBO was threatened by the webcast and pressured Top Rank, owner of the rights to the scheduled fight, to tell Philippine partner Solar Entertainment to stop the webcast.
Kornerup who was apologetic said many of its subscribers had been waiting for the fight’s webcast.
So is this a case of David vs Goliath, HBO vs the Filipino start-up?
October 3rd, 2007 at 4:45 pm
HBO has been in the business for a long time. I do not see the reason why they should be threatened. May be the reps of HBO here in Manila has the vested interest that is why they cancelled the webcast.
October 3rd, 2007 at 4:37 pm
This really sucks. How could HBO do that to a webcasting company days before the fight. HBO sucks!
October 3rd, 2007 at 4:36 pm
HBO Pay-Per-View: $50
neTVision Webcast: $10
HBO threatened? I guess so ;D
October 3rd, 2007 at 4:30 pm
Why should this be an issue, considering that HBO owns the broadcasting rights to the fight, and in fact is responsible for its production and distribution?
October 3rd, 2007 at 7:23 am
i just got an email from them weeks ago
and didn’t where did they got my email.
but after reading their online flyer
i got so interested in subscribing
too bad that it is for middle east only.
hope that there is a local net streamer for the box fight.
during the past fight of pacman.
we usually watch the fight via a webcam
in some yahoo group rooms.