Biantan: Time for PTV 4 to step-up for as PFL kicks off

Thursday, April 27, 2017

THE government owned PTV 4 has a storied past on covering prestigious sports events such as Olympics, Asian Games and the South East Asian Games.

The station also used to cover the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) for many years until TV5 cornered the contract in 2005 and IBC-13 also cornered the contract in 2011.

This year, PTV 4 is reportedly covering live the Philippines Football League (PFL) matches every weekend.

I have started viewing PTV 4 just recently to check if they actually have advancers or just a few clips to hype the league.

Although, I have seen a PTV 4 report on the launching of the PFL at the Shangri-La at The Fort in Taguig last week, all I have seen so far at PTV 4 are their educational programs, their pro government news and public affairs, and entertainment.

The station has also been busy selling consumer products like Slim Abs.

There is another announcement for the Philippine Football Federation from PTV 4 itself and premiere in May 6 (Saturday).

The social media however is now getting crazy and various football fans have started to form their own “Ultra” supporters.

PTV 4 would need massive logistics and advertisers to make the coverages successful.

As a government owned company, the station also received its own budget but I do not think they are willing to consume that budget by covering the PFL.

Philippine Football League (PFL) now joins the ranks of PTV sports league like the PBA Developmental League (PBA D-League) and University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

There will be four matches every weekend. The Kaya Football Club (FC)-Makati will defend its home turf at the University of Makati against Ceres FC-Negros, while Stallions-Laguna FC will host FC Meralco-Manila on May 6.

The next day, Ilocos United FC will host the Davao Aguilas FC at the Quirino Stadium in Bantay Ilocos Sur, while JPV Marikina plays Global-Cebu FC at the Rizal Memorial stadium.

The Marikina City stadium is still undergoing repairs and is sharing the Rizal Memorial with Loyola-Meralco Manila.

Hopes are high in the PTV 4 coverage. Local football fans who could not see the matches in person would really love to watch the matches on TV.

It is time for PTV 4 to make local football history.