SPORTS 5 has reached a deal that would have PBA games being shown on top cable sports channel FOX Sports Philippines, adding much-needed reach to the coverage of the league's matches.
Although details are still being ironed out, it is certain Fox Sports, formerly the ESPN channel in Asia, will be showing at least the first game of PBA double-headers live to Philippine-based subscribers.
That should make up for the delayed showing of the first game on main carrier station TV5, which on weekdays will only air the second game of double-headers live beginning at 8 p.m.
The first game will be shown live on Aksyon TV 41, TV5's sister channel on the UHF band, and shown on a delayed basis on TV5 after the late-evening newscast.
Under the league's new TV arrangements made after TV5 ended its blocktime agreement with IBC 13, only the main games of double-headers will be shown live on TV5 during Wednesday and Friday playdates.
The same arrangement will be followed on Saturdays, except that the games will be starting early at 3 p.m.
The only time both PBA games will be shown live by the Manny V. Pangilinan-owned network is during Sundays, where the league will have sole occupancy of the 3 to 7 p.m. time slot.