PBA on big rebound in TV ratings

The Gran Matador PBA Fiesta Conference, a transition tourney that would pave the way for a new league calendar beginning October, has turned out to be a big hit in terms of television ratings.

In fact, ABC-5 managing director Bobby Barreiro hosted a breakfast somewhere in Ortigas Center for their talents yesterday to celebrate a marked improvement on PBA game coverage ratings and a record hit a PBA play date posted a few days back.

Only halfway through the quarterfinals, PBA game coverage averages six-percent rating and 10-percent audience share in the local television industry. It is up from the combined norms of about only four percent ratings and seven-percent audience share while aired on a parallel basis by PTV-4 and IBC-13, according to ABC-5 marketing manager Winston dela Cruz.

The record hit achieved by the PBA game coverage this conference was 15-percent rating and 21-percent audience share in the final 30 minutes of the Barangay Ginebra-Sta. Lucia Realty knockout game last June 6, cornering a portion of the ratings of primetime comedy shows Tanging Ina of ABS-CBN 2 and Dadedidodu of GMA-7.

Based on the standard computation in the industry, the Ginebra-Sta. Lucia knockout tiff was watched by about 528,000 households and about 2.6 million individuals. The ratings were provided by the AGB Philippines People Meter — the official research company of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP).

Dela Cruz told The STAR that games featuring Barangay Ginebra are constant hits, underscoring the fact that the Kings are still the top draw of the league.

Despite the economic crisis, gate receipts of the league are also on a big rebound in the transition tourney.

PBA commissioner Noli Eala said gate attendance improved by 9.69 percent and gate sales by 8.92 percent from last year. — Nelson Beltran