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Solar finds a partner for airing of PBA games


The Philippine Basketball Association board of governors granted the request of Solar Entertainment to blocktime the airing of the PBA games on Studio 23, a UHF channel, for the remainder of the league’s 36th season. This was approved by the board on Monday after evaluating the technical facilities and capability of Studio 23 vis-à-vis RPN 9. “The board’s decision ensures that our fans will continue to enjoy our PBA games for the 36th season," said PBA commissioner Atty. Chito Salud. “It has always been the primary consideration of the board of governors that our games are brought to a wider and younger audience." But Salud clarified that the production group involved in the games’ telecast will still be from Solar. “They will honor the contract until end of August. Their production group will still be in charge, as their partnership involves blocktiming the games," said Salud. “The members of the board have consulted with their respective principals regarding the said transfer," said Board chairman Rene Pardo. “Given the time constraints and lack of available and acceptable VHF channels at this time, the board allowed the transfer of the coverage to Studio 23 for the rest of the season." The PBA board and the team owners met last month and signified interest to telecast the games on a VHF channel, but with only a few weeks left before the opening of the league’s Commissioner’s Cup, the board went back to their respective team owners and got their nod regarding the games' air time transfer . Teams seeking more exposure on television wanted to know however if replays of the games will also be carried, just like in the previous agreement with Solar. Under Solar, replays of the games were aired on BTV, the company’s cable channel. The question is if the replay of the games would also be aired on Studio 23, or if its sister channel Balls would carry it for the rest of the season? A source previously involved in the league’s TV coverage told GMA News that Solar, which is still under contract with the PBA, might still carry the replay of the games on BTV. “If Solar entered into a block time agreement, then it has paid for the hours of the telecast of the games and nothing more, so the logical choice for airing of the replayed games will still be BTV," said the source, who requested anonymity. PBA operations manager Rickie Santos didn't exactly agree. "Uupuan pa yan next meeting," said Santos. - KY, GMA News

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