BTV Robbed by NBA’s Biased Scheduling Assignments

The first week of NBA playoff coverage on Basketball TV will focus on less popular teams like the Raptors and Pacers, rather than the more highly followed ones like the Warriors and Cavaliers. (Photo credit: Solar Entertainment)

The NBA Playoffs have not been kind to Basketball TV these days.

When the NBA released its playoff schedule for Filipino broadcast partners, five things stood out for Basketball TV as far as the first week of coverage is concerned. They are:

1. No assigned game to BTV for April 20, Wednesday. The said date (Manila time) will feature Game 2 of both the Hawks/Celtics and Spurs/Grizzlies series.
2. A combined six appearances in eight playdates for either the Raptors/Pacers or the Heat/Hornets series, with the other two assigned to the Hawks/Celtics series.
3. No Western Conference games, plus the Cavaliers/Pistons series.
4. No doubleheaders.
5. Three games shared with either ABS-CBN or ABS-CBN Sports+Action (Heat/Hornets on April 21, Raptors/Pacers on April 22, Hawks/Celtics on April 23).

This means that viewers on BTV will have to endure watching less popular teams such as the Raptors, Hornets and Pacers on a regular basis rather than the more marquee ones like the Warriors, Spurs and Cavaliers. So much for maintaining balance of coverage.

Even worse for the network is the lack of game coverage on select playdates. That will be the case tomorrow, as the NBA did not assign one game for BTV.

So what was left for BTV to do? They have no choice but to air the postgame edition of NBA Gametime, then replay it over and over again until the next game concludes.

Very unfortunate indeed. And that has been the case for the past few years.

Regardless of the expected negative reaction, it was and always will be the NBA’s decision to assign these games, so there’s no need to complain on it. That said, subscribing to both NBA Premium and Fox Sports Philippines is necessary to everyone who can’t stand BTV’s coverage.

If not, just endure the Taglish coverage of ABS-CBN Sports for this year’s playoffs. Good luck with that.

 

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2015 NBA Finals Still a Hit on ABS-CBN Despite Delayed Broadcasts

The 2015 NBA Finals, won by the Golden State Warriors in six games, earned better-than-expected ratings for ABS-CBN. (Photo credits: NBA official Facebook, Getty Images)

The delayed broadcasts of the NBA Finals on ABS-CBN failed to dampen the spirits of viewers everywhere.

The series between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers garnered good ratings for the Kapamilya network. This despite the fact that the Finals coverage was once again aired on tape delay due to various programming concerns.

The ratings for each game of the NBA Finals are as follows:

Game 1 (June 5): 16.8% (Kantar) / 11.4% (AGB Nielsen)

Game 2 (June 8): 17.0% (Kantar) / 12.4% (AGB Nielsen)

Game 3 (June 10): 16.3% (Kantar) / 11.4% (AGB Nielsen)

Game 4 (June 12): 18.7% (Kantar) / Unavailable (AGB Nielsen)

Game 5 (June 15): 18.2% (Kantar) / Unavailable (AGB Nielsen)

Game 6 (June 17): 18.5% (Kantar) / 18.3% (AGB Nielsen)

According to Kantar, the NBA Finals on ABS-CBN earned a top 10 finish for each of the games played on a particular day. Overall, the series averaged an 17.6% rating, which was better than expected.

Over at AGB Nielsen, four of the six games of the NBA Finals managed to finish among the top 20 most viewed programs. The numbers for Games 4 and 5 have yet to be released as of today.

Last year’s NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the Miami Heat averaged a 16.5% rating according to Kantar, while AGB Nielsen’s numbers state that the five-game series averaged a 14.6% rating. Those finals were also aired on a delayed basis, but then again, the audience didn’t mind about it.

Overall, it was another successful season for the NBA on ABS-CBN Sports. While there were still some criticisms regarding tape-delay games, use of local commentary and excessive ad placement, there was little doubt about ABS-CBN’s capabilities in delivering the NBA games to a wider audience.

That said, expect bigger things to come once the 2015-16 season begins. And ABS-CBN Sports will be armed and ready to serve NBA and basketball fans across the country.

Decision Time for the NBA on ABS-CBN

The 2014 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the Miami Heat will be shown on free TV’s ABS-CBN Channel 2, in the final year of its 3 1/2 year co-production deal with Solar Sports.

The NBA Finals begin Friday morning. And for ABS-CBN Sports, this will be their last chance to show NBA fans in the Philippines that they deserve to air the games live on free TV.

This year’s NBA Finals will mark the end of a 3 1/2 year co-production agreement between Solar Sports and ABS-CBN Sports. The agreement, signed in time for the 2011 NBA All-Star Weekend, came after erstwhile coveror RPN/Solar TV decided to rebrand into ETC.

However, the Solar/ABS-CBN alliance proved to be problematic from the beginning. The Kapamilya network was criticized for broadcasting a majority of the games on a delayed basis, something previous partner RPN rarely did. Much of the blame was centered on the games aired on Channel 2, which prioritizes more on its news and entertainment programs rather than sports events like the NBA.

In fact, in the recent NBA Finals, Monday games that begin at 8:00 am Manila time were aired on a delayed basis simply because of Kris Aquino’s lifestyle show ‘Kris TV’. Perhaps ABS-CBN does not want to risk preempting her show, or that Kris was too influential for the network. In any event, these recent decisions by ABS-CBN Sports does not sit well with most fans.

Fans have also balked at how the NBA assigns its games to its global broadcast partners. In fact, this year’s playoffs saw less compelling series such as the Indiana-Atlanta and Brooklyn-Toronto series feature prominently on Basketball TV, while the Miami Heat and some of the Western Conference series were usually given to ABS-CBN Sports. Similar complaints also took place in more recent postseasons, thanks in large part to social media.

And there is also the bad case of lack of timing and advertisement overload. Ads such as KFC, Tanduay and Master astringents have interrupted game commentary prior to tipoff or a play, before the commercial break, and after a game. Perhaps the most insulting part of ABS-CBN’s repertoire is the fact that they cut any player interviews at halftime and postgame just to show sponsored highlights or game scores.

As the NBA Finals begin this Friday, a decision needs to be made with regards to the fate of the league’s Philippine free TV coverage. ABS-CBN should be in the running for renewal, since ratings for the NBA games have been very good despite numerous complaints.

Another possible contender may be Sports5, whose open slots in the morning may be more suitable to live NBA coverage than ABS-CBN’s. And while GMA may be considered a dark-horse contender, their lack of a sports division may prevent them from even bidding for NBA rights.

For now, the NBA coverage will remain with ABS-CBN Sports, at least until the end of this year’s Finals. But a decision regarding NBA’s free TV rights in the Philippines will have to begin as soon as possible. And basketball fans can’t wait.

FTT Year 2013 in Review: ABS-CBN

Another year is about to end. But before the calendar flips to 2014, here is a look back at the year that was in television and radio. This article will focus on ABS-CBN, who dominated television ratings all year.

The Positives

Everything went right for ABS-CBN. And it showed in its weekday offerings. Primetime Bida teleseryes dominated the Kantar ratings, led by the year’s top-rated series ‘Juan dela Cruz’. ‘TV Patrol’ remains the most preferred evening newscast, while ‘Showtime’ introduced the most talked-about ‘That’s My Tomboy’ and ‘Kalokalike’ segments that propelled them atop the noontime pyramid. And thanks to the highly-anticipated November wedding between Maya (Jodi Sta. Maria) and Richard ‘Ser Chief’ (Richard Yap), ‘Be Careful with My Heart’ continued to lord over the late morning slot.

The Kapamilya network continued to rack up ratings victories on weekends, aided by its reality competition shows ‘The Voice of the Philippines’, ‘Masterchef Pinoy Edition’, and ‘Pilipinas Got Talent’. Also helping their cause were the long-running anthology ‘Maalaala Mo Kaya’ and game shows such as ‘Bet on Your Baby’ and ‘Kapamilya Deal or No Deal‘. ‘Gandang Gabi Vice‘ and ‘ASAP’ remain the most talked-about shows on social media.

Even its sports offerings beat the competition. The Miami-San Antonio NBA Finals and the La Salle-UST UAAP Men’s Basketball Finals scored big in the ratings and in the hearts of netizens. The network also continued to showcase top-notch boxing matches such as the ‘Pinoy Pride’ series and fights featuring Nonito Donaire.

The Negatives

While they were able to enjoy high ratings on primetime, there were still some shows that ended up lasting less than half a year. Examples include ‘Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin‘, ‘Apoy sa Dagat‘ and ‘Muling Buksan ang Puso’, whose storylines required only at least four months of airing. Also getting the ax were the sitcom ‘Toda Max’, after lead star Robin Padilla reportedly left, and ‘The Buzz’, which was reformatted as ‘Buzz ng Bayan’. ABS-CBN’s programs were likewise not spared from MTRCB’s iron hands, as ‘ASAP’ was reprimanded in February for Anne Curtis’ sensual outfit and performance.

ABS-CBN personalities were also involved in various controversies. ‘Kris TV‘ was nearly cancelled when its host Kris Aquino announced her resignation after getting embroiled in a custody case with then-husband James Yap for their son Bimby. However, a month later, Aquino announced that she would only take a ‘leave of absence’ in June. As of now, ‘Kris TV’ continues to air in the morning slot.

And last November, Korina Sanchez criticized CNN’s Anderson Cooper regarding the latter’s report about the slow delivery of goods to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda). As a result of the negative reaction she received from netizens, Sanchez took a ‘leave of absence’ before returning to duty a month later.

Outlook

ABS-CBN capped off the year by showcasing the love team of Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla on ‘Got to Believe’, young child star Raikko Mateo on ‘Honesto’, and budding star Jessy Mendiola on ‘Maria Mercedes’. For 2014, they are expected to introduce another potential star in Julia Barretto on ‘Mirabella’. Going forward, ABS-CBN is poised for another banner year, and as long as their products continue to entice audiences, ABS-CBN will remain the country’s top network.

The Spurs Are No Blockbuster

Ratings for the NBA Finals have been no cakewalk, especially when the San Antonio Spurs are involved. (Logo courtesy of NBA Properties)

The San Antonio Spurs under Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich pride themselves in depth, teamwork and execution, qualities that resulted in four NBA championships. And those same qualities are also the reason why they are competing for a fifth championship at this time of the year.

However, despite their success, they are not a ratings hit. Two of the four NBA Finals involving the Spurs registered the lowest average ratings in Finals history. The 2003 Finals against the New Jersey Nets had a 6.5 rating, while the 2007 Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers had a 6.2 rating. This year’s series against the Miami Heat, like the Spurs’ prior appearances, is expected to rate just as low, despite the presence of LeBron James in the series.

There are two reasons why the Spurs have some of the NBA’s lowest-rated games or series. They are a small-market club, meaning that they play in a city with fewer average television sets than in cities such as Los Angeles, Boston, New York or Chicago. In addition, many criticize the Spurs’ ‘boring’ style, which emphasizes on Duncan running half-court sets each and every time. Such a slow pace would have adverse effects on the viewer’s interest.

While the Spurs lack a decent amount of viewership in the United States, globally this was not the case. The Spurs boast a good cast of foreign players to complement the team, thus viewers in France (Tony Parker), Argentina (Manu Ginobili), Brazil (Tiago Splitter), and Australia (Patty Mills) would tune in to see their popular countrymen play. Such diversity in flag and country should never be taken for granted, considering how the NBA’s global popularity has grown.

As the NBA Finals go on, it will be interesting to see how the Spurs would fare once more ratings-wise. If this were to be a short series, the ratings will be much lower; if long, it will either be even or high. Regardless, ratings for the NBA Finals will depend on how this series is played out, in terms of entertainment factor, drama, closeness of the matchups and series characters.