Tulabut: Poor Olympic coverage

IT IS a so-so coverage, definitely.

People are not just confused, they are also disappointed at the TV broadcast coverage and schedule of the ongoing Tokyo Olympics.

I have read comments in social media like “please go live” or have posted more daring questions like “which is more important: local commercial volleyball league or the quadrennial global sporting meet?”

The morning after Hidilyn Diaz won Olympic gold which has eluded the country for 100 years, people were hoping that either any of the Philippine TV networks/channels that were given broadcast rights, especially TV5, would keep playing the actual performance or even come up with a more impactful special coverage on the historical feat.

But boy, how people got so disappointed.

For example, when I tuned in to TV5 between 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. on Tuesday, guess what was being shown? That animated cartoon Powerpuff girls. As of this writing, the TV network was still showing “Flapjack” and “44 Cats” which should have given way to a more extensive Olympic coverage. That slogan “Iba sa 5” is indeed living it up to its name kakaiba, kakainis, kaka disappoint.

For most Filipinos who rely on free TV as they cannot afford to get cable or satellite TV subscription (much more pay-per-view), TV5 should have been the best service, the best offering to them. But alas, hundreds of thousands if not millions of Filipinos are now unhappy as they missed the historical sports feat of Hidilyn -- whether live or replay. For Tuesday or a day after the Diaz’s astonishing triumph, TV5 would only air “regular programming” from 12 a.m. until primetime viewing. It will not air Olympic events, not until 1030 PM as the schedule posted on Cignal show. Sorry guys, no replays on TV5 of Diaz's record-setting, history-making lift a day after.

How sad. How utterly disappointing.

Another “official broadcaster” (too) One Sports, which is said to be the sports network of TV 5, is either unknown to many especially the masa even if it is free TV. The schedule on One Sports as posted on Cignal also does not match with what is actually being shown on TV.

Well, of course that one is safely covered by the automatic disclaimer “subject to change”. But then this is a multibillion peso industry. Uploading a new, revised and a more accurate schedule on the Cignal website should cover that.

Add also that on Tuesday at about 10:26 a.m., One Sports' broadcast of Judo just went off air for few minutes and the screen just turned black, giving me the scare that I thought my TV set broke down. It did not as other channels were still on.

The only saving grace among these official broadcasters, aside from its terrific commentators like Carlo Pamintuan, is the pay-per-view of Premium Tokyo 2020 Olympic high definition channel 299 which is inexpensive at P150 on Cignal.

But even then, I also do not understand why this channel had to cut away from actual live coverage just to give way to some commercials at some point of its live broadcast. They could have simply flashed animated lower thirds or other forms of inset graphics so that live broadcast does not get interrupted.

Cignal and NBA TV Philippines channel 262 have also had its share of booboos in the recent NBA Finals.

In the Suns versus Bucks Game 1, the channel did not show that “LOCKED IN” video of home team Phoenix which should have delighted fans watching the pre game video production.

Instead, the channel showed a preview of US tv series Bachelorette. I would have understood if the channel showed local TV commercials in order to defray airing or broadcast rights costs. But to let a preview of a drama series that does not even run in Philippines manifests some neglect. Somebody was sleeping on the job there.

The Olympics will run for still more than a week. People would want to see better coverage and schedules. Network officials need not wait for a call from Chairman Manny Pangilinan who has always been the epitome of excellence, professionalism and even great service to the people. Improving the coverage is still doable.

***

COMMUNITY HELP. Mabalacat City Councilor Jun Castro has been doing the rounds. Long after the hype of having community pantries had waned, Castro is not yet to stop handing out much needed goods and prime commodities to the needy and indigent people of our city.

I have personally seen how Castro (and Vice Mayor Geld Aquino) is now being tailed by barangay leaders who seek help for their constituents through the hardworking councilor. And they don’t go home disappointed as Castro books them in his outreaches despite his busy schedule that also has to consider his business activities. It is a tough balancing act between helping out and running his business for a living.

Castro, who was a victim of namesake nuisance candidates who were fielded to create stray votes in the past, finally won in 2019. He was raring to become a public servant but was denied by dirty political tactics against him. Now, he seems to be gung-ho in living up to expectations – that he can be of service, that he can be depended upon by people.

All these, as a Councilor. As to aiming for higher position? That is a different story that he may just be capable of.

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