Basketball action from Asia’s oldest professional league is making its return soon.
This week, the Philippine Basketball Association formally announced its comeback after six months. The league, which gave way to major sporting events like the 2023 FIBA World Cup (co-hosted by the Philippines) and the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, will kickstart its 48th season with the opening of the Commissioner’s Cup this November 5.
Aside from that, the bigger news was also shared: the PBA is moving to a new home on free television. TV5, which handles the production, announced that all live basketball games will be aired on A2Z.
A2Z is the free-to-air station owned by Zoe Broadcasting Network and has been broadcasting mostly ABS-CBN programs — on top of original shows from Light TV — since it was launched in October 2020.
After the announcement, ABS-CBN gave the answer to the question regarding their programs airing on the channel. According to them, shows airing on Wednesday and Friday nights from 8:00 pm — which includes top-rating series ‘FPJ’s Batang Quiapo’. Viewers on A2Z are advised to make the switch to TV5 instead.
On Sundays, top-rating wekeend shows ‘Everybody, Sing’ and ‘I Can See Your Voice’ will also be aired on a delayed basis on A2Z, while keeping their current time slots on the Kapamilya Channel and TV5.
In this three-part special edition of Schedule Suggestions, let’s explore a plausible programming grid that will cater to both the PBA and programs of ABS-CBN. In part 1, the discussion is focused on A2Z, as part 2 will be devoted for the Kapamilya Channel, with part 3 putting the spotlight on TV5.
Let’s get going then.
Wednesday and Friday
- 6:00 am – ZOE TV shows
- 8:00 am – Yey! Weekdays sa A2Z
- 9:00 am – Magandang Buhay
- 10:00 am – Pira-Pirasong Paraiso (one-day-delayed)
- 10:45 am – Nag-aapoy na Damdamin (one-day-delayed)
- 11:30 am – It’s Showtime
- 2:30 pm – PBA Game 1 (LIVE)
- 4:30 pm – PBA Game 2 (LIVE)
- 6:30 pm – TV Patrol (delayed or join in-progress if PBA Games go overtime)
- 8:00 pm – Primetime Bida on A2Z
- 10:45 pm – Balitang A2Z
- 11:15 pm – ZOE TV shows
Immediately, let’s talk about the PBA game day schedule. Diverging from what has been announced, perhaps the league should consider doing afternoon matches during, with the games beginning right after ‘It’s Showtime’ ends. The rationale is to allow spectators to arrive home, as an 8:00 pm start for the second game might not be especially ideal for commuters, considering that the rail in the metro closes between 9:00 and 10:00 pm.
Anyhow, to make that possible, the noontime program will also have to slightly adjust to an earlier time of 11:30 am.
Meanwhile, afternoon soaps co-produced by TV5 could be transferred to mornings and instead air on a one-day-delayed basis, with or without games. This one, though, would be an experiment to test how the audience would receive morning dramas anew.
Beyond the late morning to afternoon blocks, A2Z would be able to air its current primetime block as usual.
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday
- 9:00 am – Magandang Buhay
- 10:00 am – Pira-Pirasong Paraiso (one-day-delayed)
- 10:45 am – Nag-appoy na Damdamin (one-day-delayed)
- 11:30 am – It’s Showtime
- 2:30 pm – Pira-Pirasong Paraiso (simulcast)
- 3:15 pm – Nag-aapoy na Damdamin (simulcast)
- 4:00 pm – Afternoon Zinema
- 5:45 pm – Minute To Win It (rerun) / It’s Your Lucky Day (if it becomes permanent)
- 6:30 pm – TV Patrol
- 8:00 pm – Primetime Bida on A2Z
- 10:45 pm – Balitang A2Z
- 11:15 pm – ZOE TV shows
During the other days, there should also be slight adjustments to A2Z’s regular schedule. The 10:00 to 11:30 block consisting of the afternoon dramas must remain for uniformity in the schedule, as well as serve as a catch-up for those who might have missed. Other than that, most of the current schedule remains intact.
Saturdays
- 5:00 am – ZOE TV shows
- 8:00 am – Yey! Weekend sa A2Z
- 10:00 am – Pira-Pirasong Paraiso (one-day-delayed)
- 10:45 am – Wansapanataym (rerun)
- 11:30 am – It’s Showtime (simulcast on Kapamilya Channel and GTV)
- 2:30 pm – Pira-Pirasong Paraiso (simulcast on Kapamilya Channel and TV5)
- 3:15 pm – My Puhunan: Kaya Mo! (simulcast on Kapamilya Channel)
- 3:45 pm – Tao Po (simulcast on Kapamilya Channel)
- 4:30 pm – Rated Korina (simulcast on Kapamilya Channel and A2Z)
- 5:30 pm – TV Patrol Weekend (simulcast on Kapamilya Channel, ANC, TeleRadyo)
- 6:15 pm – PBA (LIVE)
- 8:30 pm – Everybody, Sing! (simulcast on Kapamilya Channel and TV5)
- 10:00 pm – I Can See Your Voice (simulcast on Kapamilya Channel and TV5)
- 11:00 pm – iWant Originals
- 12:00 mn – ZOE TV shows
On Saturdays, the current line-up of A2Z can also be refreshed. Like in weekdays, the morning block could see ‘Pira-Pirasong Paraiso’ air a catch-up of sorts of its Friday episode at 10:00 am, followed by a Wansapanatym rerun at 10:45 am to replace the current movie block.
In the afternoons, the ‘Zine Aksyon’ block should also give way to the expanded Current Affairs block. The said block would begin with ‘My Puhunan’ at 3:15 pm. ‘Tao Po,’ which currently airs every Sunday, should move to Saturdays given that its A2Z timeslot will be taken over by the PBA. To complete the pack is ‘Rated Korina,’ which is suggested to move to an earlier slot at 4:30 pm.
Despite not being on the list of matches going to be televised on A2Z, the Saturday primetime PBA game can also be considered as part of the bundle. This is also to ensure that the league would be able to maximize its exposure every weekend on channel 11.
As a result, weekend marquee shows beginning with ‘Everybody, Sing’ will have to move to a later time of 8:30 pm not only on A2Z, but also on TV5 and Kapamilya Channel. With this set-up, the Kapamilya primetime shows on weekends will air up to 12 midnight.
Sundays
- 6:00 am – ZOE TV shows
- 9:00 am – Yey! Weekend sa A2Z
- 10:00 am – Zinema sa Umaga / FPJ: Da King (simulcast on Kapamilya Channel and TV5)
- 11:30 am – ASAP Natin ‘To (simulcast on Kapamilya Channel and TV5)
- 2:00 pm – Ipaglaban Mo (simulcast on Kapamilya Channel)
- 3:00 pm – PBA (LIVE)
- 5:30 pm – TV Patrol Weekend (simulcast on Kapamilya Channel, ANC, TeleRadyo)
- 6:15 pm – PBA (LIVE)
- 8:30 pm – Everybody, Sing! (simulcast on Kapamilya Channel and TV5)
- 10:00 pm – I Can See Your Voice (simulcast on Kapamilya Channel and TV5)
- 11:00 pm – iWant Originals (simulcast on Kapamilya Channel)
- 12:00 mn – ZOE TV shows
Finally, on Sundays, more adjustments must be in store. Starting with the mornings, ‘FPJ: Da King,’ which currently airs at 2:00 pm, will have to move at a much earlier time at 10:00 am. As for the reason as to why the movie block must be kept is simply: it is the top-rating Sunday daytime show of ABS-CBN.
Following that is an earlier ‘ASAP Natin ‘To,’ which could air from 11:30 or 11:45 am across all its platforms.
Reruns of ‘Ipaglaban Mo’ can then be transferred to 2:00 pm to fill the 1 hour gap before the live broadcast PBA games, which will air at 3:00 pm and 6:15 pm. ‘TV Patrol Weekend’ will also retain its current 5:30 pm slot.
Copying the Saturday night line-up, ABS-CBN’s primetime weekend shows will air from 8:30 pm to 12 midnight.
With the huge development that is the addition of PBA on A2Z, adjustments, whether huge or small, should be made to allow viewers to continue tuning into their favorite programs.
As opening day is still a few weeks away, one could only hope that these changes will bring a much more exciting and richer viewing experience to audiences of both the PBA and other shows airing on A2Z.
Inevitably, though, this situation will create a ripple effect that will be felt on two other channels: Kapamilya Channel and TV5, which will be discussed in two separate, but related editions of ‘Schedule Suggestions.’