If you’ve been active on Twitter, you might already be aware of the reaction of PBA fans about the ongoing technical problems of Solar TV and how it has been affecting the broadcast of the games. The network’s troubles started last October 15, when the first game between Alaska and Rain or Shine experienced intermittent broadcast interruption, while the second game between Meralco and Talk N Text was not broadcast at all.

Technical problems and intermittent signal have marred the last few broadcasts of PBA games on Solar TV, and this weekend, Commissioner Chito Salud finally issued a statement to the media about the problems. As several outlets reported, Solar was fined P3-million by the PBA, while Salud decried the network’s lack of action: “It is unfortunate that no one from Solar is taking charge. The PBA and its fans are utterly disappointed.” For its part, Nitoy Nocos of Solar TV told the Manila Bulletin “they will wait for the PBA’s decision, but pleaded for consideration.”

One has to wonder why the PBA took all of two weeks to raise hell about Solar’s deficiencies. Failure to broadcast the game, in full or in part, is a critical incident, and should have been treated as such.

In any other industry, a customer (in this case the PBA) and the service provider (Solar) would have gotten together immediately after the problem is resolved to do a post-mortem analysis meeting. It usually starts with a detailed incident report of the problem, so that everyone in the room would know exactly what was wrong. The people in the room formulate recommended steps to make sure the problem doesn’t occur again, as well as a timetable for the implementation of each recommendation. Usually, this is where penalties are discussed and levied as well. Also, both parties usually assign point persons to handle communication, to make sure recommended steps are followed, and to be accountable for any further incidents.

I’m not sure if these actions were taken by the PBA and Solar, but from the reports that have come out, this doesn’t seem to be the case. Meanwhile, PBA fans remain helpless about the situation.

(UPDATE: As James Ty III pointed out in the comments, Solar told Business Mirror today that it had replaced its satellite encoder that was causing broadcast glitches.

But here’s a bigger WTF for ya: “Salud will also seek an explanation from Solar Sports as to why PBA Phoenix Fuel On Tour out-of-town matches on Saturdays are not being shown live on Solar TV (Channel 9).” The PBA commissioner didn’t know why?! The PBA has been back for a month and a half now!)

These broadcast problems are ominous for the negotiation of the PBA’s next television deal. The current contract between the league and Solar runs until 2011, and with the shortcomings of the network, it’s easy to say that the PBA should dump its current partner and go with another TV station.

But it’s not that simple, because the landscape of television today is changing with the emergence of TV5 as a major player in the network wars. That would probably leave them out of the bidding for the next PBA contract, since TV5 probably wouldn’t want to pre-empt Willing-Willie for the PBA.

The last round of bidding also exposed Studio 23 as a less than viable option for the PBA, given that the channel, which is broadcast over UHF, doesn’t have the same reach as VHF channels. And with ABS-CBN’s broadcast of the UAAP not doing well over its main channel, it’s unclear if the network would want to throw in a channel 2 broadcast of the PBA into any deal with the league.

There is, of course, GMA-7 and Q Channel 11, which has the money and the reach, but has little experience with broadcasting sports. There’s also the fact that Q is currently a female-oriented lifestyle network, so who knows how much interest they would to reformat and add the PBA. Then again, they have shown interest in the PBA in the past. (UPDATE: Jude Turcuato points out in the comments that Q is being reformatted into an all-news channel next year.)

And then there’s Solar.

The PBA has a very tough decision ahead of them next year, and for them to make the right one, Chito Salud would have to provide more hands-on leadership than he has shown so far.