PBA: Either TV5 or IBC13 for coverage

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Basketball Association and its official TV coveror Sports5 stayed in a stalemate yesterday, prompting the pro league to set an ultimatum to resolve the impasse.

“We are willing to bend and compromise in terms of the time slot but we are not amenable to airing the games on two different channels. We don’t want to confuse our viewers,” stressed PBA chairman Robert Non.

“So it’s either channel 13 or TV5. That’s our position and they have until Wednesday to respond to our position,” Non also said.

The PBA board of governors set this statement of terms as it turned down Sports5’s latest proposal regarding the telecast of PBA games from the coming PBA Governors Cup until the end of its contract with the pro league in 2016.

During a special board meeting yesterday at the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City, TV5’s Peter Chanliong, accompanied by Vitto Lazatin, presented the network’s proposal to air the first game at 5:45 p.m. on IBC 13 and the second game at 8 p.m. on TV5 on Wednesdays and Fridays while Saturday and Sunday games will be telecast on TV5 starting at 3 p.m.

The network officials also laid their plan starting next season to air the league’s first game on Aksyon TV and the second game on TV5 during weekdays. Saturday and Sunday games will be aired on TV5.

The PBA board immediately disapproved this proposal, stressing it wants PBA games aired only on one TV station.

Before the standoff goes longer, the board decided to make the final demand. Needless to say, the PBA would resort to legal remedy should its demand isn’t satisfied by its broadcast partner. The PBA can impose a huge fine or penalty to Sports5 as stipulated in their multi-year P917-million contract.

“I think it’s also to the advantage of TV5 if they can make a final resolution to the issue at this time,” said PBA commissioner Chito Salud.

Sports5 found itself in trouble after terminating its block-time deal with IBC-13. It can’t accommodate PBA games on its own network – TV5 – that is loaded with primetime programs.