PBA on Sports5

PBA on Sports5 (formerly known as the PBA on AKTV) is the presentation of Philippine Basketball Association basketball games which started in the 2011-12 season. Telecasts are produced by Sports5, the sports division of TV5 Network, Inc., and aired through TV5 and simulcasted on IBC for one game on Saturday and two games on Sundays aired on primetime and through livestreaming at Sports5's official website. Also, there is a separate coverage in English commentary on PBA Rush starting July 15, 2016.

TV5, which was formerly known as the Associated Broadcasting Company (ABC), previously handled the coverage of the games from 2004 to 2008.

2011-2013


From October 2011 to May 2013, the coverage was known as PBA on AKTV. The games were broadcast on Sports5's AKTV program block on IBC. This was the third time that the PBA aired on IBC. The first was from 1996 to 2002 when Vintage Sports and later Viva Sports handled the television coverage, and the second in 2003, when IBC became one of the two networks (the other being NBN) that covered the PBA.

Games are being broadcast live and a pre-game and post-game show entitled AKTV Center was added.

2013-2014
After TV5 decided not to renew their blocktime agreement with IBC upon its expiration by May 2013, the broadcast coverage of the 2013 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals was still aired on IBC and TV5 with simulcasts with AksyonTV, the news TV network of TV5.

Sports5 proposed to move the coverage of the PBA games to their sister channel AksyonTV starting with the 2013 PBA Governors' Cup. The league however rejected this move since the contract between them and Sports5 states the league should be aired on a VHF channel. Sports5 then offered to air the second game of a doubleheader playdate on their main TV network TV5, one hour after the first game finishes, with the first game to be aired on a delayed basis after the second game (similar on what Vintage Sports did to the coverage of the PBA Games from 1982 to 1986). However, both games will be aired live on AksyonTV. This proposal was denied by the PBA Board of Governors since this violates the terms of their contract with Sports5.

The broadcast of the games returned to IBC starting with the 2013 PBA Governors' Cup as a compromise after the PBA disagreed to Sports5's request to permanently transfer the coverage to TV5 and/or Aksyon TV. The finals series for Governors' Cup were both aired live on TV5 and IBC.

On November 2013, Sports5 and Fox Sports Asia have entered in an agreement to air the Wednesday PBA games for the 2013-14 season live on the cable channel. It will have its own English speaking broadcast panel to properly cater the cable channel's audience.

For the 2013-14 Philippine Cup eliminations, the games were aired on the following schedule: On January 4, 2014, the broadcast of the PBA games on IBC moves to 8:30 p.m. during Wednesday and Friday beginning January 8 to give away for the pilot episode of IBC's first fantaserye Janella in Wonderland which was premiered on January 6 and aired from Monday to Friday.

As of March 1, 2014, at Sports5's request, the broadcast of the games on IBC was reducing only two live games every Saturday from 4-6 pm and Sunday from 5-7 pm starting with the 2014 PBA Commissioner's Cup to accommodate the airing of the local version of two popular game shows that will produced by IBC, including Who Wants to be a Millionaire and The Million Second Quiz.

The schedule for the 2014 PBA Commissioner's Cup has been slightly altered starting March 17, 2014, having both the Saturday doubleheader games now being aired live on TV5. To maximize the weekday airtime schedule of TV5, there will be one scheduled game during Mondays and Wednesdays: The simulcast at AksyonTV however is now discontinued. The weekday live airing of the games was returned on starting March 26 after several PBA fans reacted negatively about the delayed airing of the first game. The following schedule was also applied for the 2014 PBA Governors' Cup.

2014-present
Beginning with the 2014–15 Philippine Cup, all games will be broadcast live on TV5 with simulcasts on AksyonTV and game days (all double headers) will be on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Provincial games will be held during Saturdays which is the only single header game day. The coverage is also live-streamed via sports5.ph, where pre-game and post-game analysis are also featured. In April 2015, their total of three games will be broadcast live on IBC and within one game to be held on Saturdays from 4-6 pm and the regular doubleheaers on Sundays with two games from 3-7 pm also on IBC. The radio coverage was also transferred to TV5's FM radio network Radyo5 from the previous DZSR AM network.

The same schedule is also being followed during the 2015–16 season, except that AksyonTV simulcast was discontinued. When Sports5 got the exclusive airing rights of UFC, they re-activated the previously-dormant Hyper HD channel and began simulcasting the PBA games in HD starting on January 2016.

To further utilize the simulcast setup of Sports5, they have assigned a different broadcast panel for TV5, IBC and Hyper/Cignal. TV5 and IBC have the Taglish commentary while Hyper/Cignal have English language commentary.

A separate channel was assigned for PBA broadcasts beginning July 15, 2016 named PBA Rush.

High-definition broadcast
Sports5 had its first high definition broadcast of the league's games during the finals series of the 2014 PBA Commissioner's Cup. It was aired exclusively to Cignal Digital TV subscribers through a pay per view assigned channel for free. Since then, the HD broadcast has been airing for free on Cignal except during the 2015 Commissioner's and  Governors' Cups, which became pay-per-view exclusive. On January 8, 2016, the HD broadcast has been airing on Hyper HD. The HD broadcast was later transferred to the league's exclusive channel in Cignal named PBA Rush.

On-demand
Sports5 uploads all of the games beginning the 2014–15 PBA Philippine Cup to their sports5.ph website. Complete videos of the games are also being uploaded on Sports5's Youtube page.

Music
For the duration of the 2011-12 Philippine Cup Eliminations, Showdown by The Black Eyed Peas was used as AKTV's main theme music for the PBA games in addition to the generic sports theme used during halftime and interview segments. A different sports theme music was used starting from the semifinal round of the Philippine Cup. This was still used up to the finals of the 2012 Governors Cup.

For the 2012–13 PBA season, a theme music entitled Kampihan Na! was used on their on-air presentation. During the Philippine Cup, AKTV used a version of this theme without vocals. The vocals were later added during the elimination round of the Commissioner's Cup and was used until the Governors' Cup. A different theme was introduced during the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds of the Commissioner's Cup entitled Tuloy ang Laban, which was also used sporadically during the Governors' Cup.

A remixed version of the Kampihan Na! theme was used for the 2013–14 season. The remixed theme was used during the Philippine Cup, however a different background music was used for the Commissioner's and Governors' Cups.

During the 2014–15 season, Ito ang Liga which was composed by Jungee Marcelo and Thyro Alfaro and interpreted by Ebe Dancel, Sam Concepcion and rapper Gloc-9 is used as the main theme of the league's 40th season. It is used as bed (background music) and on the opening billboard during the coverage.

A new theme entitled Liga Ng Mga Bida performed by Abra and Aya of Project Pilipinas, was introduced for the 2015–16 season. It is used as the background and OBB music of the coverage. Generic background music was used for the 2016 Commissioner's and Governors' Cup.

Broadcast history

 * AKTV on IBC (October 2, 2011 - May 19, 2013)
 * Sports5 on TV5 (May 15–19, October 11, 2013 – present)
 * Sports5 on IBC (August 14, 2013 - present)

Sports5 Center
Sports5 introduced a pre-game show named AKTV Center. During the 2011-12 Philippine Cup eliminations, it was hosted by Patricia Bermudez-Hizon, with Mico Halili and Magoo Marjon as alternates. The format was changed starting the Quarterfinal round, usually having a three-man panel consisting of either Halili, Marjon, Bermudez-Hizon, Aaron Atayde and Dominic Uy. Special guests were added at the panel from time to time. Several characters were introduced for the segment, which also includes parodies of NBA players, namely "Kobesaya" (a look-alike of Kobe Bryant), "Jeremy Lin-ta" (Jeremy Lin) and "J.R. "Pepe" Smith" (J.R. Smith). AKTV Center airs from the IBC studios in Broadcast City but sometimes air from the playing venue during special occasions, notably the league's opening ceremonies and the jersey retirement of Robert Jaworski.

During the 2012 Commissioner's Cup, AKTV introduced Home Court with Lia Cruz as its host. The segment airs during the halftime break of the second game. However it only lasted for four episodes before returning to AKTV Center's original format.

AKTV Center was dropped when the games' broadcast currently aired on IBC and on TV5 during the 2013 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals. During TV5's airing of the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship, a similarly formatted pre-game show was included in the broadcast, which was named Sports5 Center. This incarnation was carried over for the PBA's 2013-14 season, however it was only aired during Sundays. Sports5 Ceneter was replaced by Sports 360 on November 2014.

Sports 360
Sports 360 is a sports-oriented show that also serves as a pre-game program for the PBA games beginning the 2014-15 season. It is shown via livestreaming at Sports5.ph, before the start of the PBA's first game during weekdays and on TV5 before the start of the second game during weekends. The show focuses on the latest news in the league as well as other sports. It spun off as a separate show starting February 1, 2015.

A "blitz" version of the show was introduced for the 2015-16 season.

TV panel

 * Don Allado (game analyst: 2016–present)
 * Mara Aquino (MoneyBall host, sideline reporter: 2014–present)
 * Aaron Atayde (Sports 360 Blitz host, play-by-play: 2011–present)
 * Charlie Cuna (play-by-play: 2012–present)
 * Apple David (Sports 360 Blitz host, sideline reporter: 2014–present)
 * Rizza Diaz (Sports 360 Blitz host, sideline reporter: 2013–present)
 * Jolly Escobar (play-by-play, game analyst: 2012-present)
 * Sel Guevara (sideline reporter: 2011-2013, 2014–present)
 * Ryan Gregorio (game analyst: 2011–13, 2014–present)
 * Quinito Henson (game analyst: 2011–present)
 * Vince Hizon (game analyst: 2016–present)
 * Andy Jao (game analyst: 2014–present)
 * Chino Liu Po (Sports 360 Blitz host: 2016–present)
 * Carla Lizardo (Sports 360 Blitz host, sideline reporter: 2014–present)
 * Magoo Marjon (play-by-play: 2011–present)
 * Erika Padilla (Sports 360 Blitz host, sideline reporter: 2011–present)
 * Carlo Pamintuan (game analyst: 2015–present)
 * Ali Peek (game analyst: 2014–present)
 * Eric Reyes (game analyst: 2012–present)
 * Sev Sarmenta (play-by-play, 2011, 2015-present)
 * Anthony Suntay (play-by-play: 2015-present)
 * Charles Tiu (game analyst, 2015–present)
 * Dominic Uy (game analyst: 2011–present)
 * James Velasquez (play-by-play: 2012–present)
 * Noel Zarate (play-by-play: 2016–present)

Previous

 * Ramon Bautista (Sports5 Center segment host, 2013–14)
 * Patricia Bermudez-Hizon (AKTV Center host, 2011–12)
 * Lia Cruz (Home Court segment, 2012)
 * Richard Del Rosario (AKTV Center host, 2011–13)*
 * Rado Dimalibot (play-by-play, game analyst: 2012-2014, 2015)
 * Ronnie Magsanoc (game analyst, 2011–2015)*
 * Kenneth Duremdes (game analyst, 2012–13)
 * Jojo Lastimosa (game analyst, Sports5 Center analyst: 2011–12, 2014)
 * Frankie Lim (game analyst, 2011–2014)
 * Miakka Lim (sideline reporter, 2012)
 * Jessica Mendoza (sideline reporter, 2011–13)
 * L.A. Mumar (sideline reporter, 2011–12)
 * Barry Pascua (game analyst, 2011)
 * Benjie Paras (game analyst, AKTV/Sports5 Center analyst, 2012-2014)
 * Chiqui Reyes (play-by-play: 2011–12, 2014)
 * Judy Saril (MoneyBall host: 2014)
 * Angelika Schmeing-Cruz (sideline reporter, 2011)
 * Jutt Sulit (sideline reporter, MoneyBall host: 2014–2015)
 * Luigi Trillo (game analyst: 2014)
 * Jason Webb (game analyst: 2011-2014)
 * Sam YG (Sports5 Center segment host, 2013–14)
 * Nikko Ramos (play-by-play, sideline reporter, Sports5 Center host, MoneyBall host: 2012–2014)
 * Ai Dela Cruz (sideline reporter: 2014–2015)

Fox Sports panel

 * Jude Turcuato (play-by-play, 2013–2015) (Also worked as VP for Territory Head of Fox International Channels Philippines)
 * Patricia Bermudez-Hizon (play-by-play, 2013–2015)
 * Vince Hizon (game analyst, 2013–2015)
 * Charles Tiu (game analyst, 2013–2015)
 * Ronnie Magsanoc (game analyst: 2014–2015)
 * Shawn Weinstein (play-by-play, 2014–2015)
 * Kirk Long (game analyst, 2014–2015)
 * Nicholas Nathanielsz (play-by-play, 2015–present)
 * Aaron Atayde (play-by-play: 2013-2014)
 * Mico Halili (lead play-by-play: 2013-2015)
 * Jason Webb (game analyst, 2013-2014)
 * Alex Compton (game analyst, 2013-2014)
 * Chiqui Reyes (play-by-play, 2013-2014)
 * James Velasquez (play-by-play, 2013-2014)
 * Nikko Ramos (play-by-play, 2014-2015)
 * Andrei Felix (play-by-play, 2015)

Radio coverage panel
* - denotes that the broadcaster can only host if their affiliated PBA team had no game for that coverage day.
 * Mara Aquino (studio host)
 * Chuck Araneta (game analyst)
 * Apple David (studio host)
 * Mich Del Carmen (studio host)
 * Rizza Diaz (studio host)
 * Jolly Escobar (play-by-play, game analyst)
 * Carla Lizardo (studio host)
 * L.A. Mumar (play-by-play)
 * Carlo Pamintuan (game analyst)
 * Barry Pascua (game analyst)
 * Chiqui Reyes (play-by-play, game analyst)
 * Benjie Santiago (play-by-play)
 * Jutt Sulit (studio host)
 * Renren Ritualo (game analyst)
 * Denise Tan (studio host)
 * Boybits Victoria (game analyst)
 * Noel Zarate (play-by-play)

Awards and Nominations

 * 2013 Anak TV Seal Awardee (Most Well-Liked TV Program) - Won
 * 2012 Anak TV Seal Awardee (Most Favorite TV Programs) - Won