CIGNAL TV is partnering with government station PTV4 to air the games of Gilas Pilipinas in the coming 2023 FIBA World Cup.
The decision was made in an effort to give the basketball-crazy Filipinos the chance to watch the national team in action against some of the finest teams in the world.
“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 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.”
But Gilas matches and all games of the World Cup including those being held in Okinawa, Japan and Jakarta, Indonesia will be shown via free-to-air channels TV5 and One Sports, cable channels One Sports+ and PBA Rush, and satellite pay-per-view. Streaming options, meanwhile, include Pilipinas Live, Cignal Play, and Smart Livestream.
The Philippine team opens its campaign against Karl-Anthony Towns and Dominican Republic on opening day this weeken d (Aug. 25) at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
Angola and Bruno Fernando come next for Gilas on Sunday (Aug. 27) and world no. 10 Italy on Tuesday (Aug 29) caps its campaign in Group A.
If fortunate enough, Gilas can advance in the second round of the group phase or be relegated 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).
Joining Olaso in the session were Head Business Development-Cignal TV Miguel Vea, Content Manager-Cignal TV Paulo Fernandez, MD FIBA Media Andrew Ryan, and COO FIBA Media Stephanie Mignot.
In the 2019 World Cup in China, around three billion people were tuned in for the quadrennial showcase, including 55 million people in China during one of the Chinese national team’s games.
“It’s very challenging to break that,” Ryan admitted. “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 the quadrennial showcase being hosted for the first time by three countries will be shown in 190 territories across the world.
Watch parties are also being set up in various Local Government Units (LGUs) where Gilas Pilipinas games will be shown.
“We just want to make sure that every Filipino will have a chance to watch it,” added Olaso.