Report: PBA posts marked increase in TV viewership

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Basketball Association posted a 5.48-TV viewership rating in the first five game days of the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup, a 63-percent increase from the same time span in the Philippine Cup last year, the league, citing a report furnished by AGB AC Nielsen, said on Monday. It was the highest ratings recorded in four years, the PBA 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," PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios said. "It goes to show that the PBA is still the nation's No.1 sports entertainment." The game pitting crowd favorite Barangay Ginebra and defending All-Filipino champion Sta. Lucia played on October 8 – a Wednesday – posted a 7.2 rating, the tournament's highest so far. Not one game during the previous Philippine Cup finals between Purefoods and Sta. Lucia matched that number, except the deciding Game Seven, which recorded a 12.98 rating. Solar Sports, with its channels C/S-9 on free television and BasketballTV on cable, currently owns the PBA's broadcast rights. Barrios also said the league is satisfied with its showing at the gates. In the first eight game dates, live attendance has attracted 47,048 spectators or an average of 6,721 per play date. – GMANews.TV