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| (Image Source: TV5 Network Inc.) |
Following the successful staging of the FIBA Basketball World Cup, reclaiming SEA Games Gold, and a historic Asian Games Gold Medal win by Gilas Pilipinas, 2023 is shaping up to be a year Filipino fans won’t soon forget. Sports fans now turn their attention to the local scene with the games of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) being one of the most-awaited sporting events to resume play. In a pivotal move, the PBA, together with TV5 Network Inc., embarks on an exciting new chapter for its 48th season by announcing the league’s new free-to-air home, A2Z. This transition marks a significant milestone in the PBA and TV5’s joint commitment to delivering PBA Games to as many Filipino homes as possible.
“TV5 continues to be a strong supporter of the PBA and Philippine Basketball as a whole. The partnership with A2Z ensures that Filipinos nationwide have widespread access to LIVE PBA Games on free-to-air and opens up new audiences to experience the country’s top basketball league," shared TV5 President and CEO Guido Zaballero during the PBA Season 48 press conference held last October 17, 2023 at Diamond Hotel Manila. Zoe Broadcasting Network Inc. (ZBNI) Vice President and General Manager Rene Gonzalez said, “A2Z is proud to be the new home of the PBA. We’re delighted to partner with TV5 in this exciting venture so that we may provide our audiences with more programming options. Welcoming the PBA, an established sports institution, adds a new dimension to our current offerings.” Zaballero added, "Our partnership with A2Z allows the PBA a fixed primetime slot across all gamedays, for both games. The PBA is A2Z’s key primetime offering but the intent is to build strong lead-in programming and further grow the league’s viewership on free-to-air.”
Starting November 5, fans can watch the PBA live on A2Z every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday with weekday games airing at 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm while weekend games tip off at 3:00 pm and 6:15 pm, respectively. Discussions are underway for other PBA properties on A2Z such as the PBA D-League and PBA 3×3. Following the announcement of the pivotal move, A2Z's main content provider ABS-CBN announced in a press statement that some of its programs on A2Z every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday will make way for the games of PBA Season 48 once the league officially tips off while expressing its gratitude to A2Z viewers for their continued support towards the network's programs. A2Z's weeknight primetime programs "FPJ’s Batang Quiapo," "Can't Buy Me Love," "Senior High," and "The World of A Married Couple" can be seen on TV5 during the PBA Wednesday and Friday games while, on Sundays, viewers can either tune in to “Everybody, Sing!” and “I Can See Your Voice” on TV5 or catch the delayed telecast on A2Z after the PBA games. Both ABS-CBN and ZOE Broadcasting Network Inc. support the PBA's move to A2Z and have mutually agreed on the programming changes whenever there are PBA games.
A2Z is available on analog free TV channel 11 in Mega Manila and digital free TV channel 20 in Mega Manila, Northern Luzon and key areas in the rest of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao as well as on SKYcable, Cignal, Satlite, GSat, Cablelink and Cignal Play. Fans may also access the PBA games through a wide array of platforms through Cignal TV, the league’s Official Pay TV Broadcast Partner. Pilipinas Live, Cignal TV’s newest innovative streaming platform, offers all PBA Games live and on demand, with multiple viewing options exclusive to the app. It also offers all PBA 3×3, PBA D-League and even PBA eSports events live along with exclusive original programs made for PBA fans both locally and globally. PBA Rush will continue to offer all PBA events live and in high-definition, available to over 4 million subscribers via Cignal TV.
