Solar seeks tie-up for PBA broadcast

MANILA, Philippines - Top officials of Solar Sports and ABS-CBN yesterday began exploring the possibility of a tie-up for the coverage of PBA games in the next two conferences of the ongoing 2010-2011 season.

Solar Sports, the TV coveror of the PBA since 2008, intends to offer the same proposition to GMA-7 and TV5.

“We’re not giving up the PBA coverage. We’re only looking for a TV network where we can transfer the airing. We want to satisfy good airing of PBA games,” said Nitoy Nocos, Solar Sports vice president for marketing.

Nocos, together with Solar chief operating officer Peter Chanliong, met with ABS-CBN’s Peter Musngi.

“They showed some interest but, of course, they have to bring it up to the Lopezes,” said Nocos.

The Solar Sports executive said they’ve informed the PBA of their plan through commissioner Chito Salud whom they met Tuesday.

“We have to stress that we’re not giving up the PBA coverage. We’re bound by a contract to cover PBA games until the end of the current season,” said Nocos.

Still up in the air is whether Solar Sports will seek a contract extension deal with the PBA.

“We’ve yet to discuss whether it’s a go or a no. At the moment, we’re brainstorming on where we can transfer the airing of the games,” said Nocos.

The franchise fee for the 2010-11 season amounts to P170 million.

By the end of the season, the PBA would have earned around half a billion from the TV deal from 2008-2011.