PBA tv rating, gates up

As Wall Street continues to reel from the global financial crisis, the Philippine Basketball Association recorded big gains in terms television rating as well as at the turnstile.

According to a survey conducted by AGB AC Nielsen, the first five gamedays of the 2008-09 KFC PBA Philippine Cup enjoyed an average rating of 5.48 under the watch of its new network partner Solar Sports. This represents an increase of 63 percent compared to the ratings generated by the first five gamedays of the same conference last year.

More significantly, the latest rating marks the highest the PBA has recorded in the last four years when the games were still covered by ABC 5.

Starting with the 2008-09 season, Asia's first play-for-pay league is now being produced by Solar Sports, which holds the rights to the games over a period of three years. The PBA games are being aired on C/S 9 (free TV) and Basketball TV (cable).

"It's heart-warming and inspiring considering the financial crisis confronting the country and the world," said league commissioner Renauld "Sonny" Barrios, reacting to the AGB AC Nielsen report. "It goes to show that the PBA is still the nation's No.1 sports entertainment."

He added: "I would like to assure the fans that their continued support gives us all the more reason to serve them better and try to make the games even more exciting."

Viewership of Barangay Ginebra's first game of the season against defending champion Sta. Lucia Realty, according to the survey, drew a rating of 7.2, surpassing the ratings of the 2007 Philippine Cup Finals between the Realtors and the Purefoods TJ Giants, except for the deciding seventh game. Game 7 of that titular series recorded a high 12.98 TV rating.

The Ginebra – Sta. Lucia tiff likewise approximated the TV ratings of the Fiesta Conference Finals between the eventual champion Kings and the Air21 Express.

Apparently, the league is also doing good at the gates.

According to Barrios, the first eight games of the season have attracted 47,048 live viewers or an average of 6,721.1 per playdate.

The PBA Wednesday, Friday and Sunday doubleheaders are being played alternately at the Araneta Coliseum, the Cuneta Astrodome and the Ynares Center in Antipolo while Thursday games are being held at so-called "non-traditional" venues such as the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City and the Olivarez College Gym in Paranaque.