THE PBA and broadcast partner TV5/Cignal are planning to make RPTV the ultimate home of the league, a move that fans hope would end the confusion over the broadcast of league games on free-to-air television.
Commissioner Willie Marcial said the PBA games will now be aired live on RPTV Channel 9 starting in the upcoming Philippine Cup after it was previously shown on A2Z during the last conference.
Marcial added there is also a plan to create a ‘strip’ where the PBA and its other leagues such as the PBA 3x3 and PBA D-League will be aired every day on RPTV aside from the usual game days of Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
“Ang kausap namin dito ‘yung TV5. Sila naka-block time sa RPTV kung hindi ako nagkakamali. Ang usapan namin, from Monday to Sunday, kapag weekdays from 4:30 to 9:30 or 10, PBA lahat ‘yun. Kapag weekends, 3 to 8:30. So straight ‘yun, lahat mapapanood nila – 3x3, D-League, Esports, at PBA games,” said Marcial.
TV5/Cignal handles the production of PBA games, but a shift in focus to entertainment programs prompted TV5 to move the airing of the league's games to a different network.
Recently, TV5 and Nine Media Corporation inked an agreement that led to the rebranding of CNN Philippines to RPTV, which aired content being produced by the Kapatid Network following the deal.
RPTV aired the entire PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals live following the agreement.
Marcial is looking forward to the plan to make RPTV as the home of all PBA games.
“’Yun ang pinag-aaralan namin para ma-cater natin ‘yung fans na basta ganung oras, PBA ‘yung pinapanood nila,” said Marcial.
Marcial also looks forward to the new set-up for a couple of Saturday playdates where the first game will be played in Metro Manila and the second game will be held out of town.
The doubleheader in two different sites will be held on Apr. 13 in Caloocan and Candon, Ilocos Sur; April 20 at the Ynares Sports Arena-Pasig and Tiaong, Quezon; April 27 in Caloocan and Cagayan De Oro City; and May 5 at the Ynares Sports Arena-Pasig and Batangas City.
“Dati, ‘yung out-of-town games natin, probinsya lang. Ngayon, may first game na 3 o’ clock, live ‘yun dito sa Manila, pagkatapos nun, live sa out of town. So parang doubleheader sa television. ‘Yun ang bago natin sa conference na ‘to,” said Marcial. With a report from John Mark Garcia
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