Mayweather vs. Pacquiao: Manny helps unite broadcast rivals, all major Philippine networks to air boxing mega-fight

Manny Pacquiao was a key factor in helping unite all the major networks in the Philippines. Instead of fighting over broadcast rights, the bout will now air on all the top platforms and outlets in the country.

Much like how Showtime and HBO managed to play nice and team up for the upcoming mega-fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, several rival networks in the Philippines have now united as well.

It's no secret that Pacquiao fights tend to stop the entire country on its tracks each time out. Crime rates drop and everyone tunes in for the contest, making TV deals for his bouts do big business in the Philippines. Now instead of fighting over broadcast rights for this massive fight, Manny was instrumental in convincing all these rival networks to set aside some of their issues and partner up.

Top executives from the country's biggest networks and companies such as GMA 7, ABS-CBN, TV5, Solar Sports, and SM Lifestyle Entertainment all gathered on Thursday afternoon to announce that they will all be airing the highly anticipated sporting event. From free TV, cable TV, pay-per-view, cinemas, radio, mobile and online streams, Mayweather vs Pacquiao will be available on various platforms reaching virtually every single Filipino in the country.

"It was Congressman Manny who pushed this," Solar Sports head Wilson Tieng said. "We can only take part of the credit."

As they stated, Manny knows this is a special fight, and he wanted it to be available to as many people in the country.

"Thank you very much to GMA 7, ABS-CBN, TV5 and Solar Sports. Because of this union, the fight will be shown to all of our countrymen," Pacquiao said in his native language via Skype. "I'm so happy that they now showed unity and love towards each other with the goals of serving the nation."

"They really made an effort to make this happen. Thank you."

His fights tend to bring together the nation in rooting for their beloved fighter, but by pushing for this, Manny also managed to unify these large companies and had them working together for the first time in history. If the Philippines already 'stops' every time Pacman fights, imagine how this Mayweather bout with bigger interest and a significantly wider reach would do.