ABS-CBN's Problems with the NBA Telecast

Benjie Paras' (left) presence in the NBA telecasts on ABS-CBN has been a source of criticism.
(Photo courtesy of sports.abs-cbn.com)

Many people have been posting on my Facebook page regarding their gripes over the way ABS-CBN covers the NBA games.

ABS-CBN currently has the contract to air the NBA games on free TV until 2019 under its agreement with Solar Entertainment, which holds the cable TV rights through its BTV and NBA Premium channels.

At present, ABS-CBN airs the NBA on its S+A channel on Fridays, Sundays and Mondays while Saturday games are aired on Channel 2. Daily games will resume come playoff time.

Much criticism is geared towards the way the Channel 2 games use Tagalog commentary especially when former PBA star Benjie Paras is on the air.

Paras often jokes a lot about what breakfast he ate before the coverage as well as greeting those who watch the games on Twitter.

Another criticism is why ABS-CBN doesn't air NBA games on Sundays where there are more people watching than on Saturdays.

The reason is simple. ABS-CBN prefers airing Tagalog-dubbed Disney animated movies on its KB Family Weekend timeslot as well as Kim Atienza's show Matanglawin which is more fit on a Saturday time slot.

In addition, ABS-CBN faces a huge problem if an NBA Sunday game is aired live. ASAP, which is the network's flagship show on Sundays, starts at 11:45 am and if the NBA game goes overtime, then ASAP's start gets delayed for a few minutes, something which doesn't sit well with most viewers especially since ASAP has a lot of ABS-CBN stars performing for almost three hours.

My suggestion to ABS-CBN is to shorten ASAP's timeslot since many viewers have a short attention span. The longer ASAP goes, the more boring it gets.

ABS-CBN should also remove their Tagalized Disney movies whose dubbing is extremely awkward. Move the Saturday games to S+A before the UAAP volleyball games.

And please, change Benjie Paras in the NBA panel. Get someone more sensible like a Renren Ritualo or an Olsen Racela who talk more basketball sense.

If ABS-CBN doesn't improve its methods of airing the NBA, then it's time that the world's best basketball league moves to ESPN5. The latter channel needs a popular sport like the NBA to boost its profile and attract more advertisers.

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