No Pacquiao-Barrera fight webcast in Middle East

Filipinos in the Middle East may not be able to watch through the Internet the live streaming of the rematch between Manny “Pacman" Pacquiao and Mexican boxer Antonio Barrera on Sunday. Jim Morris Sarmiento, sales and marketing director of neTVision Inc., said there had been some problems encountered that led to the cancellation of its contracts for the live video streaming of the bout. “NeTVision is canceling the Internet stream for the upcoming Pacquiao vs. Barrera rematch this October 7. This is due to contract conflicts on the international rights for the Internet webcast of the said event," Sarmiento said in a statement. Sarmiento last week announced that the organizers of the event has granted his firm the license to braodcast live over the Internet the fight of Pacquiao and Barrera. “We are much saddened with this occurrence, especially since we have all the good intentions of bringing the fight to Filipinos in the Middle East," he added. NeTVision is charging its subscribers $9.95 for the Pacquiao-Barrera fight. There are an estimated 900,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East, based on the records of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). Sarmiento refused to divulge the number of OFWs in the Middle East who have already subscribed to watch the Pacquiao-Barrera fight. The rematch between the two boxing icon will take place on October 6 (US time) at the Mandalay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. - Marie Neri, GMANews.TV