PBA on C/S9

infobox television | show_name = PBA on C/S9


format = Sports
runtime = varies
starring = see commentators
country = PHI
language = English, Filipino
network = C/S9, BTV
first_aired = October 4, 2008
last_aired = presentThe "PBA on C/S9" is the Solar Sports' coverage of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) starting at the 2008-09 season at the government-owned Radio Philippines Network (RPN)'s Channel 9 of which Solar is a block-timer, and Basketball TV. Curiously, Channel 9 aired the first PBA gamecite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=SOLAR SPORTS BAGS 3-YEAR PBA TV DEAL |url=http://www.pba.ph/content/view/2133/1/ |work= |publisher= [http://www.pba.ph PBA official website] |date=2008-05-27 |accessdate=2008-05-27 ] on 1975. [cite news |first=Zean |last=Macamay |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Solar gets it |url=http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-05-28&sec=7&aid=61130 |work= |publisher=People's Journal |date=2008-05-28 |accessdate=2008-06-02 ]

Bidding for rights

ABC backs out

The Associated Broadcasting Company (ABC) has broadcast the PBA games since 2004 on its VHF Channel 5, succeeding the failed NBN and IBC teamup which left the league in debt. ABC's contract is to expire at the end of 2007-08 season, hence the league opened bidding to broadcasters. ABC, ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation (through ABS-CBN Sports) and Solar Entertainment Corporation (through Solar Sports) emerged as frontrunners in the bidding war.

ABS-CBN, which has been broadcasting the collegiate UAAP (of which the Ateneo Blue Eagles and the De La Salle Green Archers are arch-rivals) basketball games since 2000 produced the league's Ateneo-La Salle benefit game on March 2008, airing on its UHF affiliate Studio 23's Channel 23. Both teams were composed of current PBA players who had previously played for either Ateneo or La Salle. [cite news |first=Francis |last=Ochoa |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Expect fireworks in Ateneo-La Salle PBA showdown |url=http://sports.inquirer.net/inquirersports/inquirersports/view/20080319-125605/Expect-fireworks-in-Ateneo-La-Salle-PBA-showdown |work= |publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date= 2008-03-19 |accessdate=2008-05-27 ]

ABC was reported to be piqued at the way the league is handling the bidding practice, hence it backed out of the bidding process. ABC is scheduled to give the league P70 million for the 2007-08 season, its last. [cite news |first=Musong |last=Castillo |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=ABC5 backing out of PBA TV bidding |url=http://sports.inquirer.net/inquirersports/inquirersports/view_article.php?article_id=129429 |work= |publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=2008-04-10 |accessdate=2008-05-27 ]

ABS-CBN–Solar bidding war

This narrowed down the bidders between ABS-CBN, which plans to air the games on UHF affiliate Studio 23's Channel 23 and a Sunday game on its VHF Channel 2 under the production of ABS-CBN Sports, and Solar Sports, which will air the games on channel Radio Philippines Network (RPN)'s Channel 9 of which it is a block-timer, airing its Crime/Suspense cable network on RPN. GMA Network was also reportedly in the mix but backed out; it however denied that they offered a bid. [cite news |first=Joel |last=Orellana |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=ABS-CBN appears to have edge in PBA bidding war |url=http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/04142008/sports02.html |work= |publisher=The Business Mirror |date=2008-04-14 |accessdate=2008-05-27 ]

Another bidder came into fore: Makisig Network by businessman Hermie Esguerra, which would air the games on Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation's VHF Channel 13. However, it was reported that both ABS-CBN and Solar submitted identical bids to the PBA Board: P160 million for the first year, P168 million for the second and P170 million for the third year (compare to ABC's P70 million for its fifth year). [cite news |first=Beth |last=Celis |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Identical PBA bids by Solar, ABS-CBN |url=http://sports.inquirer.net/inquirersports/inquirersports/view/20080501-133818/Identical-PBA-bids-by-Solar-ABS-CBN |work= |publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=2008-05-01 |accessdate=2008-05-27 ]

PBA Chairman Tony Chua of Red Bull Barako pushed the board to come out with a decision as soon as possible; former PBA chairman Ricky Vargas of the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals, a supporter of the ABS-CBN bid, said that money should not be a deciding factor. Also, Chua announced that Nielsen Media Research's research on comparative reach, demographics and audience share of broadcast network ABS-CBN and Solar Sports was to present its findings to the PBA Board. [cite news |first=Ronnie |last=Nathanielsz |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Chua wants board to decide early |url=http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=sports2_may6_2008 |work= |publisher=Manila Standard Today |date=2008-05-06 |accessdate=2008-05-27 ] Curiously, ABS-CBN earlier sued Nielsen on December 2007 due to allegations of rigged TV ratings.

After receiving Nielsen's data, another provider, Mind Shares, was consulted. By this time, the bids were now slightly different: Solar's bid is P31 million better than the amount being offered ABS-CBN in the first three years of its offer, while ABS-CBN is apparently offering a four-year package with the option to sign a three-year contract-extension at the end of the initial deal, with Solar a straight-up three-year deal. [cite news |first=Nelson |last=Beltran |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=PBA defers decision on television rights |url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryID=119215 |work= |publisher=Philippine Star via abs-cbnnews.com |date=2008-05-23 |accessdate=2008-05-27 ]

ABS-CBN backs out

ABS-CBN backed out its bid after receiving a solitary vote in the 9-member board. However, Solar Sports didn't automatically clinch the bid outright since the league was "insisting on a lockout to protect business interests of its team members". [cite news |first=Lourdes Florian |last= Hernandez |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=ABS-CBN withdraws PBA television bid |url=http://www.tribune.net.ph/sports/20080524spo1.html |work= |publisher=The Daily Tribune |date=2008-05-24 |accessdate=2008-05-27 ] It was revealed that, according to Mind Share, if the PBA aired on RPN, it would rate 7.9%, while if it aired on Studio 23, it would rate 1.8%, "without taking into consideration the tremendous cross-promotions boost that would immediately impact on ratings under an ABS-CBN partnership." [cite news |first=Ronnie |last=Nathanielsz |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=ABS-CBN won’t bid anymore |url=http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=sports1_may24_2008 |work= |publisher=Manila Standard Today |date=2008-05-24 |accessdate=2008-05-27 ]

This caused Solar Sports to be the "de facto" front-runner.

On May 27, the PBA announced that Solar Sports won the rights with a deal reportedly worth P508 million. Aside from live games aired on RPN, Solar would provide additional coverage on its Basketball TV cable channel.

Commentators

Solar Entertainment announced their announcing team for the 2008-09 season at a meeting in Makati. [cite news |first=|last=|authorlink= |coauthors= |title=SOLAR TO LAUNCH HIGH-TECH PBA TELECAST |url=http://www.pba.ph/content/view/2261/1/ |work= |publisher=PBA.ph |date=2008-09-05 |accessdate=2008-09-12 ]

Anchors

*Mico Halili
*Vitto Lazatin
*Paolo Trillo
*Jude Turcuato
*Ed Picson

Analysts

*Norman Black
*Danny Francisco
*Quinito Henson
*Vince Hizon
*Jason Webb

Courtside reporters

*Richard del Rosario
*Patricia Bermudez-Hizon
*Eric Reyes
*Anthony Suntay
*Dominic Uy

Interviewers

*Peaches Aberin
*Reema Chanco
*Lia Cruz
*Cheska Litton
*Marga Vargas

References

ee also

*PBA on KBS - The PBA's original coveror.