PBA on Sports5

The PBA on Sports5 (formerly known as the PBA on AKTV) is the presentation of Philippine Basketball Association basketball games which started in the 2011-12 season.^[1][2] Telecasts are produced by Sports5, the sports division of TV5 Network Inc., and aired through TV5 and simulcasted through livestreaming at Sports5's official website. Also, there is a separate coverage in English commentary every Sundays on Fox Sports Philippines which was started on November 20, 2013.

TV5, which was formerly known as the Associated Broadcasting Company (ABC), previously handled the coverage of the games from 2004 to 2008.

Presentation

History

PBA on AKTV logo used from October 2011 to August 2012.

2011-2013

From October 2011 to May 2013, the coverage was known as PBA on AKTV. The games were broadcast on Sports5's AKTV program block on IBC. This was the third time that the PBA aired on IBC. The first was from 1996 to 2002 when Vintage Sports and later Viva Sports handled the television coverage, and the second in 2003, when IBC became one of the two networks (the other being NBN) that covered the PBA.

Games are being broadcast live and a pre-game and post-game show entitled AKTV Center was added.

2013-2014

After TV5 decided not to renew their blocktime agreement with IBC upon its expiration by May 2013, the broadcast coverage of the 2013 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals was temporarily transferred to TV5 with simulcasts with AksyonTV, the news TV network of TV5.^[3][4]

Sports5 proposed to move the coverage of the PBA games to their sister channel AksyonTV starting with the 2013 PBA Governors' Cup.^[5] The league however rejected this move since the contract between them and Sports5 states the league should be aired on a VHF channel. Sports5 then offered to air the second game of a doubleheader playdate on their main TV network TV5, one hour after the first game finishes, with the first game to be aired on a delayed basis after the second game (similar on what Vintage Sports did to the coverage of the PBA Games from 1982 to 1986). However, both games will be aired live on AksyonTV. This proposal was denied by the PBA Board of Governors since this violates the terms of their contract with Sports5.^[6]

The broadcast of the games returned to IBC for the duration of the 2013 PBA Governors' Cup (up to the semifinal round) as a compromise after the PBA disagreed to Sports5's request to permanently transfer the coverage to TV5 and/or Aksyon TV.^[7] The finals series for Governors' Cup were aired live on TV5.

In November 2013, Sports5 and Fox Sports Asia have entered in an agreement to air the Wednesday PBA games for the 2013-14 season live on the cable channel. It will have its own English speaking broadcast panel to properly cater the cable channel's audience.^[8]

For the 2013-14 Philippine Cup eliminations, the games were aired on the following schedule:^[9]

The schedule for the 2014 PBA Commissioner's Cup has been slightly altered starting March 17, 2014, having the Saturday doubleheader games being aired live on TV5, with a lone game scheduled during Mondays and Wednesdays, to maximize TV5's weekday schedule.^[10] As a result, the simulcast at AksyonTV was discontinued.^[11] The weekday live airing of the games was returned on starting March 26^[12] after several PBA fans reacted negatively about the delayed airing of the first game.^[13] The following schedule was also applied for the 2014 PBA Governors' Cup.

2014-present

Beginning with the 2014–15 Philippine Cup, all games will be broadcast live on TV5 with simulcasts on AksyonTV and game days (all double headers) will be on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Provincial games will be held during Saturdays which is the only single header game day. The coverage is also live-streamed via sports5.ph, where pre-game and post-game analysis are also featured. The radio coverage was also transferred to TV5's FM radio network Radyo5 from the previous DZSR AM network.

The same schedule is also being followed during the 2015–16 season, except that the AksyonTV simulcast was discontinued.

High-definition broadcast

Sports5 had its first high definition broadcast of the league's games during the finals series of the 2014 PBA Commissioner's Cup. It was aired exclusively to Cignal Digital TV subscribers through a pay per view assigned channel for free. Since then, the HD broadcast has been airing for free on Cignal except during the 2015 Commissioner's and Governors' Cups, which became pay-per-view exclusive. On January 8, 2016, the HD broadcast has been airing on Hyper HD.

On-demand

Sports5 uploads all of the games beginning the 2014–15 PBA Philippine Cup to their sports5.ph website. Complete videos of the games are also being uploaded on Sports5's YouTube page.

Music

For the duration of the 2011-12 Philippine Cup Eliminations, "Showdown" by The Black Eyed Peas was used as AKTV's main theme music for the PBA games in addition to the generic sports theme used during halftime and interview segments. A different sports theme music was used starting from the semifinal round of the Philippine Cup. This was still used up to the finals of the 2012 Governors Cup.

For the 2012–13 PBA season, a theme music entitled "Kampihan na!" was used on their on-air presentation. During the Philippine Cup, AKTV used a version of this theme without vocals. The vocals were later added during the elimination round of the Commissioner's Cup and was used until the Governors' Cup. A different theme was introduced during the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds of the Commissioner's Cup entitled "Tuloy ang Laban", which was also used sporadically during the Governors' Cup.

A remixed version of the "Kampihan na!" theme was used for the 2013–14 season. The remixed theme was used during the Philippine Cup, however a different background music was used for the Commissioner's and Governors' Cups.

During the 2014–15 season, "Ito ang Liga" which was composed by Jungee Marcelo and Thyro Alfaro and interpreted by Ebe Dancel, Sam Concepcion and rapper Gloc-9 is used as the main theme of the league's 40th season. An instrumental version, as well as a different rendition of the song, is used as bed (background music) and on the opening billboard during the coverage.

A new theme entitled "Liga ng mga Bida" performed by Abra and Aya of Project Pilipinas, was introduced for the 2015–16 season. It is used as the background and OBB music of the coverage.

Broadcast history

• AKTV on IBC (October 2, 2011 - May 12, 2013)
• Sports5 on IBC (August 14, 2013 - October 7, 2013)
• Sports5 on TV5 (May 15–19, October 11, 2013 – present)

Pre/post game segments

AKTV/Sports5 Center

Sports5 introduced a pre-game show named "AKTV Center". During the 2011-12 Philippine Cup eliminations, it was hosted by Patricia Bermudez-Hizon, with Mico Halili and Magoo Marjon as alternates. The format was changed starting the Quarterfinal round, usually having a three-man panel consisting of either Halili, Marjon, Bermudez-Hizon, Aaron Atayde and Dominic Uy. Special guests were added at the panel from time to time. Several characters were introduced for the segment, which also includes parodies of NBA players, namely "Kobesaya" (a look-alike of Kobe Bryant), "Jeremy Lin-ta" (Jeremy Lin) and "J.R. "Pepe" Smith" (J.R. Smith). AKTV Center airs from the IBC studios in Broadcast City but sometimes air from the playing venue during special occasions, notably the league's opening ceremonies and the jersey retirement of Robert Jaworski.

During the 2012 Commissioner's Cup, AKTV introduced "Home Court" with Lia Cruz as its host. The segment airs during the halftime break of the second game. However it only lasted for four episodes before returning to AKTV Center's original format.

After the expiration of Sports5's contract with IBC, AKTV Center was dropped when the games' broadcast was transferred to TV5 during the 2013 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals. During TV5's airing of the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship, a similarly formatted pre-game show was included in the broadcast, which was named "Sports5 Center". This incarnation was carried over for the PBA's 2013-14 season, however it was only aired during Sundays. Sports5 Ceneter was replaced by "Sports 360" in November 2014.

Sports 360

Sports 360 is a sports-oriented show that also serves as a pre-game program for the PBA games beginning the 2014-15 season. It is shown via livestreaming at Sports5.ph, before the start of the PBA's first game during weekdays and on TV5 before the start of the second game during weekends. The show focuses on the latest news in the league as well as other sports. It spun off as a separate show starting February 1, 2015.

A "blitz" version of the show was introduced for the 2015-16 season.

List of broadcasters

Magoo Marjon and Quinito Henson anchors a game between San Miguel Beermen and NLEX Road Warriors at the Cuneta Astrodome last December 9, 2015.

TV panel

• Mara Aquino (MoneyBall host, sideline reporter: 2014–present)
• Aaron Atayde (Sports 360 Blitz host, play-by-play: 2011–present)
• Charlie Cuna (play-by-play: 2012–present)
• Apple David (Sports 360 Blitz host, sideline reporter: 2014–present)
• Rizza Diaz (Sports 360 Blitz host, sideline reporter: 2013–present)
• Jolly Escobar (play-by-play, game analyst: 2012-present)
• Sel Guevara (sideline reporter: 2011-2013, 2014–present)
• Ryan Gregorio (game analyst: 2011–13, 2014–present)
• Quinito Henson (game analyst: 2011–present)
• Andy Jao (game analyst: 2014–present)
• Carla Lizardo (MoneyBall host, Sports 360 Blitz host: 2014–present)
• Magoo Marjon (play-by-play: 2011–present)
• Erika Padilla (Sports 360 Blitz host, sideline reporter: 2011–present)
• Carlo Pamintuan (game analyst: 2015–present)
• Ali Peek (game analyst: 2014–present)
• Eric Reyes (game analyst: 2012–present)
• Sev Sarmenta (play-by-play, 2011, 2015-present)
• Anthony Suntay (play-by-play: 2015-present)
• Charles Tiu (game analyst, 2015–present)
• Dominic Uy (game analyst: 2011–present)
• James Velasquez (play-by-play: 2012–present)

Previous

• Ramon Bautista (Sports5 Center segment host, 2013–14)
• Patricia Bermudez-Hizon (AKTV Center host, 2011–12)
• Lia Cruz (Home Court segment, 2012)
• Richard Del Rosario (AKTV Center host, 2011–13)*
• Rado Dimalibot (play-by-play, game analyst: 2012-2014, 2015)
• Ronnie Magsanoc (game analyst, 2011–2015)*
• Kenneth Duremdes (game analyst, 2012–13)
• Jojo Lastimosa (game analyst, Sports5 Center analyst: 2011–12, 2014)
• Frankie Lim (game analyst, 2011–2014)
• Miakka Lim (sideline reporter, 2012)
• Jessica Mendoza (sideline reporter, 2011–13)
• L.A. Mumar (sideline reporter, 2011–12)
• Barry Pascua (game analyst, 2011)
• Benjie Paras (game analyst, AKTV/Sports5 Center analyst, 2012-2014)
• Chiqui Reyes (play-by-play: 2011–12, 2014)
• Judy Saril (MoneyBall host: 2014)
• Angelika Schmeing-Cruz (sideline reporter, 2011)
• Jutt Sulit (sideline reporter, MoneyBall host: 2014–2015)
• Luigi Trillo (game analyst: 2014)
• Jason Webb (game analyst: 2011-2014)
• Sam YG (Sports5 Center segment host, 2013–14)
• Nikko Ramos (play-by-play, sideline reporter, Sports5 Center host, MoneyBall host: 2012–2014)
• Ai Dela Cruz (sideline reporter: 2014–2015)

Fox Sports panel

• Jude Turcuato (play-by-play, 2013–2015) (Also worked as VP for Territory Head of Fox International Channels Philippines)
• Patricia Bermudez-Hizon (play-by-play, 2013–2015)
• Vince Hizon (game analyst, 2013–2015)
• Charles Tiu (game analyst, 2013–2015)
• Ronnie Magsanoc (game analyst: 2014–2015)
• Shawn Weinstein (play-by-play, 2014–2015)
• Kirk Long (game analyst, 2014–2015)
• Nicholas Nathanielsz (play-by-play, 2015–present)
• Aaron Atayde (play-by-play: 2013-2014)
• Mico Halili (lead play-by-play: 2013-2015)
• Jason Webb (game analyst, 2013-2014)
• Alex Compton (game analyst, 2013-2014)
• Chiqui Reyes (play-by-play, 2013-2014)
• James Velasquez (play-by-play, 2013-2014)
• Nikko Ramos (play-by-play, 2014-2015)
• Andrei Felix (play-by-play, 2015)

Radio coverage panel

• Mara Aquino (studio host)
• Apple David (studio host)
• Mich Del Carmen (studio host)
• Rizza Diaz (studio host)
• Jolly Escobar (play-by-play, game analyst)
• Carla Lizardo (studio host)
• L.A. Mumar (play-by-play)
• Carlo Pamintuan (game analyst)
• Barry Pascua (game analyst)
• Chiqui Reyes (play-by-play, game analyst)
• Benjie Santiago (play-by-play)
• Jutt Sulit (studio host)
• Renren Ritualo (game analyst)
• Denise Tan (studio host)
• Boybits Victoria (game analyst)
• Noel Zarate (play-by-play)

* - denotes that the broadcaster can only host if their affiliated PBA team had no game for that coverage day.

See also

• PBA on ABC
• Philippine Basketball Association

References

External links

• PBA on Sports5 on Facebook
• PBA on Sports5 on Twitter