The PBA on ABC (later renamed as The PBA on TV5) was a branding for presentation of Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) games by the Associated Broadcasting Company. The PBA on ABC premiered on February 22, 2004, replacing the previous broadcaster of the games, National Broadcasting Network and Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (PBA on NBN/IBC).

PBA on ABC
Also known asPBA on TV5
GenrePBA game telecasts
Starringvarious PBA on ABC/TV5 commentators
Country of originPhilippines
Original languagesFilipino
English
No. of episodes1,062
Production
Executive producerBobby Barriero
Camera setupMultiple-camera setup
Running time150 minutes+
Production companyABC/TV5 Sports
Original release
NetworkABC/TV5
ReleaseFebruary 22, 2004 (2004-02-22) –
August 20, 2008 (2008-08-20)
Related

History

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Due to poor performance and disappointing ratings, the PBA disbanded a broadcasting consortium between the National Broadcasting Network and the Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation after the 2003 season, and took bids on a new broadcast contract for the league. In January 2004, the PBA began a contract with the Associated Broadcasting Company to broadcast PBA games for one year, beating bids from Solar Sports and former Vintage Television owner Bobong Velez’s attempt to form GMA Network’s sports division. The new ABC operation picked up talent from the former NBN/IBC coverage, including Mico Halili, Quinito Henson, Paolo Trillo and Norman Black. Ed Picson was also hired by ABC, after a two-year hiatus from covering the PBA due to a fallout between him and Viva TV in 2002.

After the 2004-05 PBA Philippine Cup, the league and the network extended the contract for the 2005 Fiesta Conference. After the contract expired in 2005, despite a low amount of money offered, the league chose ABC over Solar Sports, who had a much bigger bid than the former. ABC and the PBA then signed a three-year deal that expired after the 2007-08 season.

Citing financial constraints, ABC backed out of bidding for a new contract for the 2008-09 season's PBA coverage. Solar Sports, through local network Radio Philippines Network (RPN), would the new broadcast partner of the PBA for the following season.

Even though the network would be dropping the PBA, ABC still rebranded their PBA coverage during their August 2008 relaunch as TV5 in the middle of the 2008 PBA Fiesta Conference Finals (which would also be the final games shown by the network). The final PBA game shown on ABC/TV5 was Game 7 of the Fiesta Conference finals between the Air21 Express and Barangay Ginebra Kings on August 20, 2008. Mico Halili and Jason Webb were the commentators for its last run.

Commentators

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Play-by-play

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PBA on ABC's time/score bug during the 2006-07 PBA Philippine Cup.

Color

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Courtside reporters

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Previous Play-by-Play

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Previous Courtside Reporters

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See also

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Preceded by PBA TV coverage partners
2004–2008
Succeeded by