PBA’s own production ready in case Board turns down TV5 offer

Left as the lone bidder for the coverage rights of the Philippine Basketball Association’s 37th season, TV5’s fate will be known when the league’s Board of Governors meet Wednesday. But is TV5 already assured of the coverage rights? “We’re all studying our options," a highly-placed source from the league told GMA News Online. “There’s still a possibility TV5’s offer might be turned down even though wala silang kalaban sa bidding." The same source also said the PBA already has its in-house production and sales group, which can be tapped if ever negotiations with TV5 will not push through. “If ever hindi na-approve ng Board and TV5, the league will look for another network outfit and I would say, right now, there are interested networks which want to carry the games via block time agreement," added the source. PBA commissioner Atty. Chito Salud reportedly met with officials of ABS-CBN on Tuesday to discuss the possibility of a block time agreement. ABS-CBN, whose UHF channel carries the games of the league until August in a block time agreement with Solar Entertainment, pulled out of the bidding war with TV5 for the coverage rights next season. A block time agreement with ABS-CBN using the league’s in-house production and sales group will enable the PBA to save expenses on TV coverage. “They’re (in-house production and sales group) ready," added the source. “We’ve created them at a time when Solar Entertainment [was] facing financial and technical problems in handling the coverage of the league." Solar Entertainment, which already advised the league earlier it will no longer bid for the coverage rights next season, also experienced several technical glitches while handling the coverage and was not spared by the league of hefty fines this season. TV5, which bolstered its network outfit by coming up with several sports programs, was left alone as a bidder. Vito Lazatin, sports manager of the network, explained the reasons why the network wants to pursue on the coverage of the PBA starting next season. “We believe in the PBA. Mahal ng tao ang PBA and we want to be a part of it," said Lazatin. “I cannot speak in behalf of the PBA regarding its plan of having its in-house production and sales group, but we in TV5 would like to pursue our interest for the coverage rights of the league." A league source privy of the negotiations said that TV5’s five-year offer amounting to P900 million has been reduced to P800 million. Included in the package is the coverage of the D-League and radio. “They (TV5) changed it from P900 million to P800 million. The Board is still studying the offer and will come up with a decision on Wednesday’s meeting," said the source. Commissioner Salud neither confirmed nor denied the offer, saying they will come out with the figures after the Board meeting. If ever the PBA and TV5 reach an accord, the games will be shown on the network’s sports outfit Aksyon TV (AKTV) via a block time agreement with IBC-13. “A part of the deal with the PBA is that the league will be included as one of the flagships of the network. We will also improve the facilities in IBC-13 and assign employees to hold offices there," said a network executive, who refused to be identified. - KBK, GMA News