SPORTS5 risks sanctions that could run in the millions of pesos as negotiations for a new broadcast arrangement for the PBA games hit a stalemate ahead of a crucial meeting on Thursday.
According to sources, the league board is mulling taking over the broadcast of the games after Sports5's latest proposal to air the two games of every double-header on separate channels was thumbed down.
In the latest of a series of proposals, Sports5 has offered to air the first game of every double-header in the PBA Governors Cup either via IBC-13 or PTV-4 starting at 5:45 p.m. and the second game on TV5 at 8 p.m.
The proposal also said broadcast of the league's games will be moved to Aksyon TV 41, TV5's sister channel on the UHF band, for the final three seasons of a multi-year, P917 million deal the league signed with MediaQuest back in 2011.
However, the proposals have been deemed unacceptable by the board, which has invoked a clause in the contract calling for the broadcast of the league's games in a "single VHF channel."
“Ayaw ng team owners ng ganun na hiwalay pa ang broadcast,” said the source. "Malilito nga naman ang mga tao kung saan papanoorin ang mga games."
With no acceptable arrangement in sight, sources said some board members have started looking in a different direction and eyeing a clause in the MediaQuest contract that gives the league the option to take over the league broadcast if no agreeable terms is reached.
Such a move, however, may prove costly for the TV coveror.
Spin.ph has learned that the MVP-owned broadcast outfit will be hit with a P70 million penalty the moment the league takes over the broadcast of the games and P2 million for every game day thereafter.
The board will be considering that option when it sits down with representatives of Sports5 on Thursday before deciding on the broadcast issue with finality, the source added.
“Willing naman ang board na makipag-usap sa kanila. Ang hinihingi lang naman naming is 'yung channel na mapapanood ng lahat,” said another source from the board.
“Tinatanong nga namin sila - hindi ba kayo nagre-rate sa PBA? Sabi nila oo. O ayun naman pala, bakit yung PBA coverage ang magsa-suffer?” he added.
Sports5, TV5's sports outfit, has been forced to look for a new home that is acceptable to the board after ending its block time agreement with IBC 13 in May.
The broadcast outfit initially offered to air all games live on Aksyon TV with broadcasts of games either on a live or delayed basis on TV5 -an offer thumbed down by the board.
“Parang paikot-ikot na lang kami eh,” said the source.
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