MBA to sign P50M contract with NBN

The Multi-Regional Basketball, Inc. (MRBI) is close to signing a P50 million contract with the National Broadcasting Network (NBN) to have the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) as one of the TV station’s regular blocktimers during weekends.

Ramon Tuason, the MBA’s director for business and marketing, said the money will come from MRBI’s own pocket. The move was a direct result of ABS-CBN’s decision not to renew its broadcasting contract with the three-year-old league next year.

"We are still finalizing the P50 million contract and the MBA board will decide when we meet next Thursday," said Tuason.

In the said contract, the MRBI is planning to acquire the blocktime from 6 to 11 p.m. during Saturdays and 1 to 6 p.m. during Sundays for the whole of the MBA’s next season.

Tuason said the MRBI is planning to produce the MBA games during weekend and run it either on cable channels or local channels of the participating home teams so as to give every squad maximum exposure.

"There is no finality yet but we are working out a plan of airing games during weekdays," said Tuason. "We want to produce our own games during those times and maybe air it in local channels or in cable," he added.

Also to be discussed in the board meeting is the creation of a new league format, the composition of next year’s MBA roster and the re-admission of Pampanga and Pangasinan.

Tuason said he will ask all the members of the board if they still intend to stay on at least for the next season so as to give way for the return of the two teams.

"The ideal number of teams for next year is eight so we want to ask this early the eight teams which are likely to stay so as to give slots to Pampanga and Pangasinan, both of which are eager to return," said Tuason. — Joey Villar