Millions tuning in to PBA games — Cignal

MANILA, Philippines — Basketball, indeed, is the Philippines’ favorite sport. 

This is evident as millions of fans have tuned in to PBA Commissioner’s Cup games even during the elimination round. 

According to Cignal TV, the league is averaging a million viewers per game on free-to-air television via RPTV.

On May 3, 2.3 million viewers, with peak viewership nearing three million, watched the clash between Barangay Ginebra and Rain or Shine. 

Fans also came in droves online, as millions also watched PBA games on the One Sports YouTube account, where the games are free, as well as the Pilipinas Live app. 

Cignal said that games aired on YouTube average 863,000 views per stream and 93,000 concurrent live viewers per game.

Pilipinas Live also generated 630,000 total views and accumulated 16.8 million minutes of watch time across both live games and video-on-demand content.

The Manila Clasico battle had a peak of 331,000 live viewers back on April 10. 

“That follows a promising turnout this conference, with gate attendance averaging between 8,000 to 10,000 and the PBA drawing 10,729 gate attendance for the Labor Day clash at Smart Araneta Coliseum,” the statement said. 

In that play date, the Phoenix Fuel Masters defeated the TNT Tropang 5G, while the Meralco Bolts blasted Barangay Ginebra. 

The quarterfinals are set to start later this month.