IF you've missed out on much of the action in the last NBA playoffs either because your cable provider has no NBA Premium TV channel or you found its subscription price simply prohibitive, here's something to consider.
EasyTV has bundled NBA Premium TV and Basketball TV (BTV) among 15 channels in a pay-DTT (digital terrestrial television) service that was rolled out beginning last month in certain areas in Metro Manila.
EasyTV is more or less similar to the 'mahiwagang blackbox' TVPlus service of ABS-CBN, except that EasyTV sells its digibox for P2,999 which comes with a free subscription of one year. Succeeding renewal will cost a subscriber P999 annually.
ABS-CBN's TVPlus is being sold for P1,499 and doesn't charge a subscription fee.
But EasyTV should still be an attractive proposition for NBA fans, considering NBA Premium TV isn't part of the channel lineup of some major cable providers - or its subscription comes at a high cost.
The low cost at EasyTV is easy to explain.
EasyTV is operated by Solar Digital Media Holdings, Inc., an affiliate of Solar Entertainment Corporation which holds the rights to the NBA broadcast in the Philippines. All airings of NBA games in the Philippines go through Solar.
Save for the initial purchase cost, a subscriber will basically be paying P83.25 a month (under the annual subscription fee of P999) for a bundle that includes NBA Premium TV and BTV as well as other Solar-operated cable channels like ETC, Jack TV, and Solar Sports.
Also part of the channel lineup are MTVph, BOO, K Plus, Zoo Moo, Aniplus, Outdoor Channel, Gone Viral TV, Zee Sine, Shop TV, and History channel.
However, EasyTV service is s currently available only in Quezon City, Marikina, Taguig, Muntinlupa, Pasig, North Caloocan, and East Antipolo. But its officials vowed to make it available to the whole Metro Manila area soon.