THE PBA is on a high, enjoying soaring numbers from new carrier RPTV Channel 9, aside from high figures representing viewers on the pro league’s other platforms.
Commissioner Willie Marcial was understandably elated no end.
“We are very grateful. Iyong mga manonood natin ay patuloy tayong sinusundan, at nadagdagan pa sila noong mga nakatutok sa atin sa RPTV, sa ating carrying cable network at sa social media,” Marcial said yesterday during the Philippine Cup finals press conference at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria in Quezon City.
“Nakakataba ng puso, and this will definitely inspire us all the more to bring the best games possible especially as we near the league’s 50th season,” he added.
Reports of an average of 1.2 million viewers per game in its initial months of broadcast by RPTV left Marcial thanking PBA fans–add to that the millions more attracted by matches on Cignal TV’s Rush channel and online.
Game 5 of the Ginebra-Meralco semifinals duel aired by RPTV got a rating of 3.1% on NUTAM and 2.6% on PHINTAM, peaking at 3.9% or about 2.8 million viewers towards the end of the fourth quarter.
The deciding Game 7 won by the Bolts 78-69 drew 2.4 million viewers.
Beginning to broadcast Asia’s first play-for-pay league just early this year, RPTV obtained the highest rating from the March 10 game pitting Ginebra and Phoenix, with the Kings scoring a 102-92 victory.
The onus now falls on the race-to-4 finals showdown between the Bolts and the defending champions San Miguel Beermen kicking off tomorrow, Wednesday, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
