A day before Megastar Sharon Cuneta officially transferred networks from ABS-CBN to TV5 earlier this week, entertainment columnist Ricky Lo wrote in his "Funfare" column in The Philippine Star that Sharon's contract was allegedly worth P1 billion. Trusted sources, he said, disclosed the amount. Sharon neither confirmed nor denied this at the contract signing on November 22.
After the deal was sealed, speculation arose as to why Sharon's home network did not make a counteroffer in an effort to keep her. In his column on November 24, Ricky's source revealed ABS-CBN found TV5's offer too expensive for them to match it. "Hindi kaya ng network. Masyadong mahal. (The network couldn't afford it. It was too expensive.) Even only half of the [rumored] amount is very expensive. Had the network made a counteroffer of even only half of the P1 billion, or even just one-third of it, baka naman ma-insulto si Sharon, kaya wala na lang. The network avoided hurting anybody."
The source added that Sharon's contract with ABS-CBN had expired, and it was just not renewed. “The Kapamilya bigwigs had been hearing the rumors that Sharon was being lured by the Kapatid Network, but when they learned about the amount involved, they deemed it wise not to ask Sharon to renew her contract."
Meanwhile, ABS-CBN management expressed that they respected Sharon's decision. "Sharon has been a revered Kapamilya for many years, and we genuinely wish her well in her new journey," said ABS-CBN in their official statement.
For more on this issue, check out this article on FN:
(Photo courtesy of PEP.ph)
