NBASunDOS: Much Better than NBASabaDOS

IF there is one thing that ABS-CBN Sports should do in order to improve its coverage of the NBA games, it's that it has to add more weekend games on its flagship station Channel 2.

At present, the NBA on ABS-CBN is only on Saturday mornings. The first half is delayed but the second game comes in live with the usual Taglish commentary coming from PBA legends Benjie Paras and Ronnie Magsanoc.

On Fridays, Sundays and Mondays, ABS-CBN airs its NBA telecast on its sister channel S+A which used to be the old Studio 23 that aired a number of canned shows in the 90s.

As I have posted many times on this blog, ABS-CBN should add one Sunday game on Channel 2 aside from its regular Saturday games. 

Here are the reasons why ABS-CBN should add a Sunday game on Channel 2.

1. It's better than a Tagalized Disney movie. The Sunday morning time slot on ABS-CBN is usually reserved for kids who stay at home with their families. But a big problem in that time slot is the Kapamilya Blockbusters Family Weekend which airs animated movies that are dubbed in Tagalog. I have always been a critic of those Tagalized movies simply because the dubbing is very awkward and many Filipinos can understand English anyway. ABS-CBN can adjust this problem by airing its cartoons at 8 am followed by the NBA games at 9 am.

2. It will help shorten the airtime of ASAP. It's no secret that ASAP is the crown jewel of ABS-CBN's Sunday programming. The noontime variety show has been on the air for more than a decade and it has become an institution primarily due to the presence of singing idols like Gary Valenciano and Martin Nievera, plus the recent addition of Regine Velasquez. But the show is too long at close to three hours and it can become boring at times with the same musical numbers being presented every week. ASAP is also more of a vehicle for the network to promote its newest movies and TV shows. A better thing for ABS-CBN to do is to shorten ASAP to at least two hours and a half so that the NBA Sunday games can be accommodated especially if the game goes overtime.

3. Balance. At present, the NBA on ABS-CBN covers only one day on Channel 2 while the other days like Mondays, Fridays and Sundays are on its sister channel S+A. In order to promote balance, ABS-CBN should air the weekday games on S+A while the weekend games should be on Channel 2. And as much as possible, ABS-CBN should air at least two NBA games in the morning as its way of making up for the sudden removal of Basketball TV and NBA Premium from Skycable as a result of the ongoing controversy over carriage fees. 

4. It will help streamline ABS-CBN's weekend programming.  After the NBA, ABS-CBN can air ASAP then Banana Sundae then a special like a beauty pageant, G Diaries with former Secretary Gina Lopez or a Pinoy Pride Boxing special. The recently shown Star Cinema movies on Kapamilya Mega Blockbusters can be moved to the Sunday's Best time slot while ABS-CBN can make some changes like Wansapanataym can be moved to Sunday daytime in the afternoons after Banana Sundae while Rated K should be moved to Saturdays since it is losing anyway to Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho in the ratings. And ABS-CBN should air just one reality show on Sundays so that Gandang Gabi Vice and Sunday's Best can come in early.

5. S+A can focus on other sports.  Airing the NBA games on Sundays on Channel 2 will allow S+A to air other sports live like international football and replays of UAAP and MPBL games. Maybe airing the NBA at the same time on both 2 and S+A will boost ABS-CBN Sports' profile. 

I hope ABS-CBN can consider these suggestions if it wants to keep the NBA games in its fold after its contract with Solar and the league expires at the end of the current season, which is in June 2019.