PBA parallel telecast off the air soon?

The parallel broadcast of the PBA games may be shelved with the telecast most likely reverting to a simultaneous format over two television networks due to financial constraints.

The NBN-4/IBC-13 consortium was to tackle last night the problems brought about by the "parallel coverage."

A STAR source said the NBN-4 board of directors has made a stand, urging the consortium to do away with the parallel broadcast or face heavy financial losses.

Actually, the NBN-4 board was against the arrangement from the start, but the consortium still launched the program on March 16 on the approval of Summit Sports World, the financier of the consortium.

The parallel broadcast entails a cost of nearly P400,000 for the two separate productions per play date. The problem is that the two networks are having a hard time recovering the amount through commercials because of the present economic situation.

NBN-4 has an alternative suggestion should the consortium decide to continue with the parallel set-up. The government-owned network wants to take over control of the whole production to save cost.

"Let’s be realistic. The parallel is a good idea if there’s an advertising money. But times are hard. If the PBA itself lost money the last time, how do you expect us to earn when we’re throwing away money on two separate productions of one product," an NBN-4 board member told The STAR.

"Now, if they don’t want to take away the parallel, we should take control of the whole production. We take control of the cost and the people to have better coordination. If we wanted different productions, let’s make sure it’s different," he added.

The NBN-4 board is concerned not only with its finances but also with its corporate image "One People, One Nation, One Vision."

"Puro kami one, then in this undertaking hiwalay. Mali na kaagad," the board member said.

The PBA Commissioner’s Office is not meddling in the games coverage but commissioner Noli Eala reportedly told NBN-4 president and general manager Mia Concio it would be her call. " You have the responsibility. If you mess up, we go after you."

Meanwhile, Group B pacesetter Red Bull seeks to avenge its lone defeat thus far in the Samsung PBA All-Filipino Cup eliminations as it meets San Miguel Beer in a rematch today at the Philsports Arena.