PBA eyes ABC-5 as new partner

The PBA’s new broadcasting partner may be known as early as today as the league board of governors meets in an emergency meeting, determined to fix things with a number of activities on the line right in the first days of January.

A reliable source said the PBA’s new television coveror will likely be ABC-5, a network now owned by former PBA franchise (Mobiline) team owner Tonyboy Cojuangco, who has shown interest to enter into a joint venture with the league.

The same source said the board opted to tap a new coveror instead of going on its own or making its own production.

"It’s very important for the board to finally clear which direction they’re going. By hook or by crook, they have to settle things right away since a lot of activities are now around the corner. Sino ang ko-cover ng pre-draft amateur camp? Sino ang ko-cover ng amateur draft? All of these are set in the second week of January," The STAR source said.

Other TV outfits signified their intention to take over NBN-4, but the board reportedly preferred ABC-5 because of its commitment to be highly competitive in the industry under a new ownership.

Expected to represent ABC-5 in the PBA meeting is Bobby Barrero, who stood at the forefront of GMA-7’s bid for the same project last year.

"The PBA is banking on the prestige of Bobby Barrero and on ABC-5’s commitment to be competitive in the industry. ABC-5’s immediate goal is to be No. 3. Of course, it wants to be No. 1 in the future," said The STAR source.

"Ayaw ng PBA sa ABS-CBN kasi ang ABS-CBN gusto hostage ka niya kapag ka deal ka," the source added.

The same source said only the sharing scheme is to be talked about with the PBA looking at 70-30 at the start.

The PBA’s equity in the joint venture would be the TV franchise which was worth P200M this year in its deal with NBN-4.

Termination of NBN-4’s contract seems to be a foregone conclusion, with NBN-4 chair Mia Concio herself admitting "it (termination) is a very big possibility."

The PBA sent the NBN-IBC consortium a notice on Dec. 1, giving them a month to settle their debts and iron out kinks on their coverage of the games or the contract would be terminated.

The consortium owes the league P134 million in franchise fee, apart from the P60-million penalties IBC-13 incurred for stopping its coverage of the games.

In the notice of termination, the PBA wanted the consortium to pay the franchise fee, settle the "Letter of Credit" problem and make assurance of the resumption of the simulcast coverage.

"We’re working on several options. Who knows? Baka may makuha kaming bagong partner which is willing to pay the franchise fee. But the simulcast is beyond our control. Hindi namin kontrolado ang Channel 13," said Concio.

"That’s the problem because the PBA said that if we don’t rectify the lapses or breaches on our end, the contract would be annulled," she added.