Sports website SPIN.ph to either change owners or close down soon

SPIN is a Filipino sports news website.

On Tuesday, Snow Badua opened the episode of his live streamed program ‘Point of View’ on SPIN PH’s YouTube with a news. Badua immediately shared that that episode of the show might be its last, saying that the situation at SPIN is “liquid” or uncertain.

Elaborating further in the show, SPIN’s editor-in-chief Dodo Catacutan said that they have yet to speak to the human resources team of the company at that point in time. Although, Catacutan said that he and the publication will share whatever the outcome from the conversation might be in the coming days.

Moreover, the EIC also discussed the likely result of his talks with the higher-ups, which might lead to SPIN’s shutdown or a possible handover in ownership.

Badua then disclosed that unless a new management absorbs all SPIN employees come December 1, some staffers will be laid off.

Adding to that, the sportscaster also teased that the “new management” might be GMA Network. This, as he asked Catacutan a series of question along the lines of “what if SPIN gets absorbed by GMA?”

Ending the show, Badua, Catacutan, SPIN’s associate editor Gerry Ramos, and lead correspondent Reuben Terrado imparted farewell messages to readers and viewers of the portal on what could be the last edition of the online show, as well as of SPIN.

Currently, there is still no update as to what fate lies ahead for SPIN.ph.

Although, after the show, SPIN staffers took to social media to air their sentiments on the future of the long-running local sports website, which is owned by Summit Media.

For one, Terrado on X (formerly Twitter) announced that he will soon become a free agent.

Personal news: I will soon be a free agent. 😂

As mentioned during the POV episode earlier, @spinph is about to end its run after 11 years (unless there is a change of heart and).

Thank you for reading our stories over the years.

— Reuben Terrado (@reubensports) October 31, 2023

Meanwhile, former staffers, industry colleagues, and fans have also shared their opinion on SPIN’s possible closure.

Whether you admit it or not, every sports fans' go-to site was @spinph.

Sure, we may not agree with everything that it puts out (especially some of the opinion pieces), but you can never question the integrity and most of all, the hardwork that the team put in.

— Randolph B. Leongson (@dolphtrythis) October 31, 2023

Sucks seeing @spinph’s fate, given that not too long ago, we at the original ABS-CBN Sports website saw a similar end.

What sucks more is that another legitimate Philippine sports website gets shut down.

Wishing everyone at Spin all the best. Your stories shouldn’t end here.

— Santino Honasan🎈 (@honasantino) October 31, 2023

ABS-CBN Sports, the old ESPN5, and now SPIN PH. Philippine sports websites can't keep dying like this. Way too much talent frequently getting displaced because of things beyond their control. It sucks and it hurts.

— Eros Villanueva (@erosvillanueva_) October 31, 2023

SPIN.ph, which is an acronym for Sports Interactive Network, was launched in 2012. According to its website, Spin “is the country’s [Philippines] first full-staff, comprehensive sports website that provides every Filipino sports fan with real-time sports news, in-depth features, opinion pieces, videos, and special reports around the clock.”

As per data analytics site SimilarWeb, SPIN is also one of the country’s leading sports news websites.

As of press time, Summit Media has yet to issue its statement regarding SPIN.ph’s future. Trendrod also remains open for comment on the matter.

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