Barreiro makes good impression

It was perfect timing that TV5 President/CEO Bobby Barreiro wrapped up an important PBA presentation an hour or two before his scheduled dinner with a small group of sports columnists at Gerry’s Grill in Tomas Morato Monday night.
The meeting between the PBA board and TV5 executives, which also included Vitto Lazatin, Raul de la Cruz and Peachy Guioguio, was scheduled on the eve of the PBA delegation’s departure for Dubai where three teams—Ginebra, Talk ‘N Text, and B-Meg Derby Ace were scheduled to play two games.
The presentation was not covered by media, giving the columnists present first crack at what transpired.
“There were several items on the agenda which the board wanted to discuss at length with us,” Barreiro revealed. “For example, they wanted details of our marketing plan. They also wanted to know more about the international channel where the PBA games will be aired.”
Of course both parties wanted to be clear on the lockout issue as the board requested for the specific figures involved in the five-year contract. I take this to mean that the board wanted to know how payment will be made over a five-year period, which is the duration of the contract.
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Bob is definitely no stranger to the PBA television coverage. He was on top of TV5 (then known as ABC-5) when the network acquired the pro league’s broadcast franchise.
The then Tonyboy Cojuangco-owned network can take pride in the fact that of the last five PBA coverors, it was the only one that managed to keep its head above water.
In fact, the station may have even  earned some  revenue.
The secret?
“We paid a reasonable amount for the franchise,” Bob said.
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Although there was no clear indication if the board was pleased with the presentation, Bob and his group appeared to be in high spirits over dinner.
Bob said they will know by July 8 if TV5 will be the official broadcast coveror for the next season.
“If we don’t get the franchise,  we will put our money on other sports projects. Our boss Manny V. Pangilinan really wants to go into sports in a big, big way. He prefers the grassroots, pang-masa type of sports.  Most of all, he wants every Filipino to be healthy,  that’s why he wants sports to be a way of life for everyone.”
If the board does not find the terms and conditions of the TV5 proposal acceptable, the only option left for the league is to produce and market the games in-house. The proposition does not look too sound, but that’s exactly what PBA chair Rene Pardo told me  some weeks ago.
I wondered if last Monday’s presentation had changed his mind.
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So I called him.
Over the phone, Pardo sounded impressed with the presentation which he described as comprehensive. He said other members of the board were impressed as well.
“After the meeting, we reviewed what was presented. With some minor adjustments, everything seems to be A-okay. Implementation is another matter, of course.”
The chair has set a special board meeting on July 8, where there will only be two items on the agenda: The Barako Bull sale to Air21 and, most likely, the appointment of TV5 as the new PBA coveror.