PBA forms in-house production group

With or without an official television coveror, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) will make sure games will be made available to the viewing public — either by hooking up a co-production deal with another network or forming its own production outfit. PBA commissioner Atty. Chito Salud disclosed these options to mediamen at the press launch of the upcoming Philippine Cup best-of-seven finals between San Miguel Beer and Talk N Text. The press launch was held at the Gateway Suites in Cubao, Quezon City on Tuesday. "SolarTV is committed to continue the coverage of the PBA and will honor its contract as our network partner until the end of the season in August. But it has no plans of renewing with us," Salud told mediamen. "We want to plan for the 37th season, so we're planning on either coming up with our own production outfit or hooking up a co-production deal with any of the networks." "If we don't find a coveror, the PBA will create its own production outfit," added Salud. "I don't think the PBA has lost its marketability, as other people would say, because there are 10 big companies backing up the league, which means we're capable of putting up our in-house production outfit." According to the second-generation commissioner, at least five board governors have encouraged him to look at the possibility. It will be one of the things that will be discussed in the team owners' meeting set next week at the Edsa Shangrila Hotel. "Several board governors are encouraging me to allow the PBA to put up its in-house production group. In fact, we're slowly doing it and we have the means to do that. That's how confident they are. And I'm confident as well that we will air the games of the 37th season no matter what, because that's our commitment to the public," said Salud, who succeeded Sonny Barrios as head of the league at the start of the 36th season. Salud said he has set a timetable on whether the league will pursue its plans in this direction, or settling for a co-production with a network. "Definitely, the ideal date is two months before the end of the season," said Salud. "If we decide to do it in-house, we will look for another network and make the PBA a blocktimer. If a network is serious in co-producing with us, then we will start doing it by August." - Rey Joble, JVP, KY, GMANews.TV