Cignal TV is collaborating with the government station PTV4 to broadcast the games of Gilas Pilipinas during the upcoming 2023 FIBA World Cup. This decision aims to provide passionate Filipino basketball enthusiasts with the opportunity to witness the national team compete against some of the world’s top teams.
“Meron kaming niluluto ng kaunti for Gilas Pilipnas games to be actually seen on PTV4. We were graciously allowed by our partners from FIBA to air it para mas marami ang makakapanood,” announced First Vice President Head of Channels and Content-Head of Sports of Cignal TV Sienna Olaso in the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday at the conference hall of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
“We extended our offer to PTV 4 to actually carry it either live or delayed. We just want to make sure that every Filipino will have a chance to watch it.”
However, all Gilas matches and the entire World Cup, including games held in Okinawa, Japan, and Jakarta, Indonesia, will also be available on various platforms. These include free-to-air channels TV5 and One Sports, cable channels One Sports+ and PBA Rush, and satellite pay-per-view. Streaming options encompass Pilipinas Live, Cignal Play, and Smart Livestream.
The Philippine team will commence its campaign by facing the Dominican Republic, led by Karl-Anthony Towns, on the opening day of the tournament this weekend (August 25) at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan. Subsequently, Gilas will take on Angola and Bruno Fernando on Sunday (August 27), followed by Italy, ranked 10th in the world, on Tuesday (August 29), concluding its Group A participation.
If the team’s fortunes align, Gilas could advance to the second round of the group phase or participate in the classification phase.
“Minimum of five (games) all the way to eight games. So, sana we can enter the next phase so we can have more games,” said Olaso in the session presented by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, MILO, Philippine Olympic Committee, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
The session featured participants such as Miguel Vea, Head Business Development-Cignal TV; Paulo Fernandez, Content Manager-Cignal TV; Andrew Ryan, MD FIBA Media; and Stephanie Mignot, COO FIBA Media.
During the 2019 World Cup in China, approximately three billion people tuned in for the quadrennial event, including 55 million viewers in China during a game featuring the Chinese national team.
Acknowledging the challenge to surpass those figures, Andrew Ryan admitted, “It’s very challenging to break that. But I think no doubt we’re looking at very historical records in the host countries in particular. I think obviously we have incredible coverage with Cignal in the Philippines, in Japan, and in Indonesia. Cignal has been a wonderful partner the past few years and I think we couldn’t have asked for a better partner in the Philippines.”
The FIBA official added that this quadrennial showcase, hosted for the first time by three countries, will be broadcast in 190 territories worldwide.
Watch parties are also being organized in various Local Government Units (LGUs) where the games of Gilas Pilipinas will be screened.
“We just want to make sure that every Filipino will have a chance to watch it,” Olaso reiterated.
