Whether it’s on a television channel or online, here’s how you can get updates on our Filipino Olympians come the Paris Olympics.
With each passing day, the 2024 Paris Olympics only continues to get closer. In a few months’ time, we’ll once again see thousands of athletes — the Philippines’ delegation included — represent their home countries and hopefully haul a good amount of medals throughout the international multi-sport competition.
And for the Philippines, Paris should be a noteworthy one.
Beyond their delegations’ own fates, the country heads into the 2024 Olympics with two major storylines. For one, the Philippines is entering Paris after a four-medal haul in Tokyo 2020 led by Hidilyn Diaz’s weightlifting gold, the country’s first gold in 97 years.
Second, Paris also serves as the 100th anniversary of the country’s Olympic participation. Surely, our Paris-bound delegation would look to make a splash given these facts.
But how can we get quick updates on the Filipino Olympians during the Paris 2024 Olympics? Fortunately, we can do so through free-to-air networks TV5, RPTV, and One Sports, as well as Cignal’s digital streaming platform, Pilipinas Live!
Through a partnership with the Philippine Olympic Committee, media company Cignal and its subsidiaries will now provide official coverage of the Paris Olympics locally, according to POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.
“We will bring every memorable moment to the Filipino fans, from the time our athletes leave. In fact during the training…all the way until they come back [to the Philippines] hopefully bringing medals to the country. To do this, we commit all available resources across the MediaQuest group–from our pay-TV platforms to our free-to-air platforms, to our digital platforms,” said Jane Basas, MediaQuest, and Cignal TV president and CEO.
According to Basas, they are “working closely as well” with local networks PLDT and Smart to ensure they can “scale the distribution of content across the country.”
What’s in store for now?
In a June 10 media release, it’s been confirmed that Cignal will “take the lead on linear TV” starting with RPTV and One Sports on free-to-air television, alongside “news features and highlights” from TV5, whose reporters will be embedded in the Paris-bound Filipino delegation.
“We will be at the training [in Metz], but we would also have access to the Athletes’ Village, and the playing areas,” Cignal AVP for channel and content James Meneses told The GAME last April regarding TV5’s news-based approach.
High defenition viewing will also be available on pay TV network One Sports Plus on top of “three Olympics games dedicated 24/7” channels for the network’s subscribers. As mentioned, Pilipinas Live will allow Filipinos to be updated with the Olympics “anytime and anywhere”.
There’s also the Facebook and YouTube accounts of One Sports, which will likewise provide updates on social media.
Also within the ecosystem is Smart, which will utilize their Smart Livestream app, alongside the Smart Sports and Puso Pilipinas Facebook pages. PLDT Home subscribers, meanwhile, will be offered “multiple channels via IPTV” to stay updated with the Olympic games.
An exclusive miniseries called “This is Our Team” is also one of Cignal’s Olympic offerings, which would “highlight the journey of Filipino athletes as they prepare for Paris 2024”.
“Hopefully ‘yung first eight nandon sa Metz, and makakarating ‘yung panahon na ‘yung episode nine hanggang labing-tatlo na matapos…kasama niyo kami doon [sa Paris Olympics],” Cignal FVP for Channels and Content Sienna Olaso said last April.
A “campaign” promoting the centennial year is also in the works, Olaso said. “Lahat ng plataporma namin, digital and free-to-air, and pay [TV], will speak about our athletes. I mean…it’s going to be a whole campaign leading up to the opening and the start of the Olympics competition.”
Banner Image from Vanessa Sarno on Instagram.
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