ZTV 33 is PBL

Updated September 27, 2013 - 12:00am

The country’s UHF interactive TV station of ZOE Broadcasting Network, Inc., ZTV 33 is bringing the games for the Philippine Basketball League (PBL), a commercial semi-professional basketball league in the Philippines is back with a big bang for a new slam dunk, in hoop lingo on October 13 via the state-of-the-art broadcast satellite facilities.

After 2 years, PBL returns now with a new rules and new faces and talents as much fanfare, hype and hope. ZTV 33 is locking in prime-time hours for Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday to reposition the PBL returns. The league is composed of several commercial teams with several collegiate and provincial stars.

The entry of ZTV 33 as the official PBL broadcaster means that it has put in to handle the telecast of the league will be abolished. It can be recalled that the PBL returns and this time on ZTV 33 after last aired on RPN-9 (then known as CS/9) in 2009.

ZOE TV chairman Bro. Eddie Villanueva and station manager ZTV Jonathan Jabson have agreed to a partnership with the PBL for the airing of the popular games, in line with ZTV 33’s commitment to quality entertainment, news and public service, and the addition into programming for sports described PBL as "a prime-time league" in a recent press conference and backed it up by assigning prime-time hours on the network with the coverage. He recalled the PBL "the sports staple of ZTV 33" and basketball as "the sport of choice of most Filipinos."

ZTV’s industry - acknowledge wide reach assures of PBL increasing viewership around the country. The word is ZTV 33’s programming mix, 50% will be devoted to entertainment shows, 25% of news and public affairs and 20% to sports. This is the first-ever foray of ZTV 33 into sporting events since the MMTLBA games was aired from 2009 to 2011.

In the transition of the 2013-14 PBL Challenge Cup, it has scheduled through telecast live with one game to be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 to 9 p.m., while the two doubleheaders airing on Saturday and Sunday from 3 to 7 p.m.

The PBL inked a deal to play during Tuesday and Thursday at the Makati Coliseum, the most popular venue among fans. There will be some weekends games played at the PhilSports Arena.

No less than PBL chairman Ding Camua said the league hooked up with ZTV 33 because "we owe it to the fans to give our best." PBL commissioner Nolan Bernardino would be happier attended by managers, coaches and players.

Camua said they have abandoned an earlier plan of following the schedule of Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), games which are being televised on TV5, IBC-13 and AksyonTV every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday; along with the PBA Developmental League (PBA D-League) televised on PTV-4 with only one game every Tuesday, Tuesday and Saturday and the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) also televised on RPN-9 every Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.

A source said ZTV’s thrust is to go beyond the technical aspects of the coverage and capture the drama of the game by portraying the players as human gladiators in a conflict situation. There will be 10 to 12 cameras with three slo-mo angles zooming in on the action so viewers can expect visual. "It will be like story-telling," said the source. "ZTV 33 will bring out the emotions of the coaches, the players, the fans."

The talk is ZTV 33 is investing a lot in writers and researchers to dig up interesting facts about players and coaches to share with viewers. The treatment will be personal, exciting and enriching. It’s exactly what the PBL needs and what the fans want; the players will be projected as athletic heroe,s who are at the same time, real people.

Jabson, who masterminded the network’s bid to clinch the telecast rights of the PBL, is known in media circles as a marketing whiz, a programming genius and a creative storyteller.

After two bridesmaid finishes, walking down the aisle must be a great feeling for Jabson. He worked hard for his shot and brought back the bacon. Now that he’s on board the PBL bandwagon, you can expect Jabson to give it all he’s got to make sure making home to ZTV 33 will be an experience like no other.