source: mb.com.ph

Philippine sports finally enter the digital era as ABS-CBN begins its high-definition (HD) test broadcast of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines’ (UAAP) basketball games this Saturday and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) on Monday on Balls HD (SkyCable Channel 166).

According to ABS-CBN Sports Head Peter Musngi, it will only be a matter of time before ABS-CBN starts airing boxing, billiards, and even non-basketball games of UAAP and the NCAA on HD.

“We’re bringing the UAAP to the digital age. With HDTV, local viewers can now experience what sports fans around the world already enjoy – wide-screen and crystal clear picture quality, fluid motion, and digital sound. HDTV is apt for sporting events and it is a perfect fit for avid sports viewers who want to see all the action,” said Musngi.

High-definition TV (HDTV) is the latest standard in TV technology, which is already experienced in countries across the United States, Europe and Asia.

As the first and only local network with a full HD OB van, ABS-CBN will mark the first time in Philippine television history to broadcast a locally-produced program and a live event on high-definition.

Balls HD (SkyCable channel 166) will air the live telecast of the UAAP games on HD from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. every Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, while NCAA games on HD will air every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The primetime telecast of the games will be at 8 p.m. for UAAP and 10 p.m. for NCAA on the said days.

There will also be live standard broadcast coverage of the UAAP and the NCAA on Studio 23 on the same schedules. Replay of the games will follow on the same days on Balls Channel (Skycable Channel 34) on primetime beginning 8 p.m. for UAAP and 10 p.m. for NCAA.

“UAAP and NCAA on HD” are available to all SkyCable subscribers with an HD box, which decodes SkyCable’s HD signal.