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 PBA games being one of the most-awaited sporting events to resume play.
In a pivotal move, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), together with TV5, 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,” shared TV5 President and CEO Guido Zaballero. “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.”
“A2Z is proud to be the new home of the PBA,” Zoe Broadcasting Vice President and General Manager Rene Gonzalez also shared. “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.”
Once the league tips off on Nov. 5, fans can watch the PBA Live on A2Z every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday with weekday games airing at 4:00 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.
“Our partnership with A2Z allows the PBA a fixed primetime slot across all gamedays, for both games,” Zaballero added. “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.”
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. A2Z is likewise available via streaming app Cignal Play.
Originally published on Manila Bulletin.
