PBA widens broadcast reach

MANILA, Philippines — The PBA is widening its household reach by airing its weekend games in an additional free-to-air TV channel, CNN Philippines, by next month.

According to commissioner Willie Marcial, CNN Philippines will begin broadcasting the matches in the quarterfinals of the ongoing Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup every Saturdays and Sundays.

CNN’s broadcast, he added, is eyed for the first Saturday offering of the playoffs, Jan. 20.

“Ito yung sinasabi kong pinapalawig natin yung (TV) coverage. Isa itong sa CNN. Magandang balita ito,” Marcial told The STAR.

PBA on CNN was made possible by the partnership between TV5, which produces the games, and Nine Media Corp, owner of CNN Philippines.

Meanwhile, fans can still continue watching the games on A2Z, the league’s home network this season. A2Z airs the matches every Wednesdays and Fridays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. and on Sundays at 3 p.m. and 6:15 p.m.

With CNN now part of the broader broadcast set-up, Marcial bared a likely shift in time slot when the league resumes after the holidays.

“Magbabago iyung timeslot, mas pagagandahin, mas primetime,” he said.

The league is looking at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. slates on weekdays and 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on weekends as possible schedules moving forward.

Commissioner’s Cup hostilities will resume on Jan. 5 after the PBA ended its 2023 calendar with a Christmas Day double-header.

Teams will ramp up their pursuit of the eight spots in quarterfinals and the coveted twice-to-beat advantage for the Top 4 when they return after the New Year festivities.