PBA board pulls plug on AKTV plan to switch broadcast from IBC 13 to TV5

April 25, 2013

The PBA board, led by chairman Robert Non, feels the in Philippine TV could cause confusion among TV viewers especially with the import-laden tournament now on its crucial stage.

The PBA board of governors on Thursday rejected Viva-TV's proposal to the league’s television broadcast of the Commissioner’s Cup semifinals and finals with IBC has a total of 6 games with one game every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and two-games on Sundays at 4 p.m., and TV5.

In explaining its decision, the board, led by chairman Robert Non, said the channels could cause confusion among television viewers especially with the import-laden tournament now on its crucial stage.

“Taking into consideration the possible negative impact on our television and live audience with respect to the abrupt change in channel and schedule of games, the board decided that the airing of PBA and NBA games in IBC-13 under the schedule provided by the league and as provided in the television contract shall continue to be forced and in effect,” said the board in a statement.

The league, however, gave its TV partner the option to air the playoff games of the Commissioner's Cup both on Viva on IBC and TV5, similar to an arrangement the league had in 2003 when the games were aired on parallel broadcasts over NBN-4 and IBC-13.

The proposal to transfer channels during the PBA playoffs was earlier made by Viva-TV in the hope of airing the games before an even bigger audience.

Viva-TV, the primetime programming block of Vic del Rosario's Viva Communications, Inc., Viva-TV has now a block-time contract with IBC-13 that gives it the primetime slot from 5 p.m.-12 midnight slot in the government-owned channel - a deal that TV5 head Manny V. Pangilinan said will end in May. The development is not expected to affect the Commissioner's Cup coverage since the tournament would be over by the time the AKTV-IBC deal expires, but the board will have to sit down again soon to discuss on which free television channel the PBA games will be aired next.

With IBC-13 being eyed for privatization by the government, the station can no longer agree to any long-term contract with block timers, while TV5 is currently loaded with programing during its primetime slot, including an hour-long newscast.