GMA Network warns Pacquiao of contract breach

MANILA, Philippines - GMA Network issued another statement Saturday warning Manny Pacquiao that he will violate a provision in his talent contract with GMA if his bout against Ricky Hatton in May will be aired by another TV station other than GMA Network. Contrary to the statement of ABS-CBN, GMA Network said that the airing of the fight or the event is a program or show of the TV station that airs it. ABS-CBN in a statement Friday said that the airing of Pacquiao’s fights will not violate his contract with GMA Network, which prohibits Pacquiao from appearing on “any television program, show, promotion or event of any other broadcast media entity." According to ABS-CBN, Manny’s fights are not programs, shows, promotion, or events of ABS-CBN. As the media partner of Pacquiao, ABS-CBN will only be airing Pacquiao’s boxing matches that will produced by Top Rank. GMA Network said, however, that “it is irrelevant who produced the program, show, promotion or the event." It said “the agreement between Pacquiao and GMA prohibits the boxing icon from appearing in any TV program, show, promotion, or event of another broadcast media entity other than GMA Network." “In any event, it will be the court which will rule on who is correct when a case is filed," GMA Network said. - GMANews.TV