Former league anchor and sports broadcaster Chino Trinidad expressed his willingness to help the PBA amidst what he believed a ‘television crisis’ after being left without a permanent television home following the shutdown of CNN Philippines and the cessation of game coverages in A2Z.
Trinidad shared that he is very much willing to help the league to find a temporary home and be available in free to air broadcast and on primetime especially with the upcoming 2024 Philippine Cup.
“I’m gathering right-minded people who continue to believe in the PBA as a product. I am constantly talking to people and networks that can help the PBA on an interim (basis), helping them for the all-Filipino,” said the veteran journalist.
“I might be able to talk to people gather people na merong facilities to help the PBA until they find a permanent solution to the television crisis,” he added
Trinidad has yet to sit down with the league top officials but he expressed displeasure about the decision of A2Z to stop the PBA coverage just when the league is in the middle of its Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
A2Z signed a content deal with TV5 to broadcast the PBA games back in October after TV5 decided to shift its focus to entertainment.
It was another setback to PBA’s television mileage after CNN Philippines, which also broadcasted Commissioner’s Cup elimination games, decided to discontinue its operations due to financial woes.
“My heart bleeds for the PBA, for its television coverage yun ang kinakalungkot ko,” said Trinidad who was also an anchor to the league back when it was still being produced by Vintage Sports in the 90’s.
“Sinabi nila na they are pulling the plug altogether in the time na championship can you even do that to the PBA?,” he added, referring to A2Z’s decision.
As of now, PBA can still be watched on free television on RPTV Channel 9 and on PBA Rush in cable and through Pilipinas Live and Smarts Sports livestream apps.
The current television coverage situation is what prompted Trinidad to offer help to the PBA on an interim basis while it searches for a permanent home on free tv.
“I owe PBA much. Naghahanap ako ng mga kaibigan and try to salvage the coverage for the all-Filipino conference. I don’t know if the PBA realizes that they are in a television crisis. It’s a crisis of people who no longer know where to watch the PBA,” he added.
