The FIBA World Cup 2023 in Manila ended last Friday, September 10, after more than two weeks of constant basketball activity.
Local fans were thrilled as the Philippines had the distinction of hosting the world’s top basketball teams as they competed for basketball supremacy.
Records were broken: The opening game between Gilas Pilipinas and the Dominican Republic at the Philippine Arena on August 25, 2023, broke the FIBA World Cup live attendance record with 38,115 viewers in attendance.
Fans also got to meet “Pearl,” the first Filipino digital person created in partnership by Smart-PLDT, NTT Data, and MediaQuest.
And for those who worked tirelessly to make this event a resounding success, International Basketball Federation Secretary General Andreas Zagklis praised the team effort of the entire MVP Group of Companies, stating that the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 “lived up to expectations and delivered in terms of drama, fan engagement, social media stats, and overall experience.”
Outstanding Coverage of the FIBA Basketball World Cup
Cignal TV used its combined strengths in event production and sports broadcasting to present a memorable spectacle on the international stage, delivering the mission of staging the games and offering world-class coverage. Fans from all across the Philippines were able to watch the games at the 238 watch parties conducted at 92 venues around the country, which were organized by Cignal TV in collaboration with participating malls and barangays.
Those who watched the games at home had multiple options, including free-to-air networks on TV5 and One Sports, pay TV channels One Sports+ and PBA Rush, and Cignal and SatLite pay-per-view services. Meanwhile, Pilipinas Live, Cignal TV’s OTT streaming platform, broadcast all 92 games without commercial interruption. This groundbreaking sports app elevated the viewing experience for fans by offering a variety of unique features such as multi-camera perspectives, behind-the-scenes video, and the fan stream function.
“As the official Philippine Media Rights Holder of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, we produced the best game coverage using state-of-the-art equipment as well as studio shows for our various broadcast and streaming platforms,” said Sienna G. Olaso, Cignal TV’s First Vice President and Head of Channel and Content Management, who also served as FIBA LOC’s Broadcast, Media, and Ceremonies Head.
The successful hosting and broadcast of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 in Manila was the culmination of years of hard work made possible by the MVP Group, according to Jane J. Basas, President and CEO of Mediaquest Holdings and Cignal TV, who also served as Head of the FIBA LOC’s Ways and Means Committee.
“We are truly honored to have been given the opportunity to deliver this memorable experience, and our heartfelt gratitude goes out to all of our partners at FIBA, SBP, Smart-PLDT, our Cignal production and broadcast teams, and all of the volunteers who made this possible,” Basas added.
With the successful conclusion of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, Cignal TV is now focusing on expanding its world-class production and broadcast capabilities and has set its sights on the upcoming 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, as well as the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Qatar.
