Solar Sports
Solar Sports is a Filipino 24-hour cable TV sports channel, which serves as the flagship cable channel of Solar Entertainment Corporation, and based in Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, Philippines. The channel was launched on January 1, 1994 and is available for Sky Cable, Cablelink and contract for local cable operators and via livestreaming.
Solar Sports | |
---|---|
Launched | January 1, 1994 |
Owned by | Solar Entertainment Corporation |
Picture format | 480i SDTV |
Slogan | Your Sports Channel |
Country | Philippines |
Language | English (main) Filipino (secondary) |
Broadcast area | Nationwide |
Formerly called | Solar Entertainment Channel (1994–2002) |
Replaced | BTV NBA Premium TV |
Sister channel(s) | ETC Front Row Channel Shop TV |
Website | www |
Availability | |
Satellite | |
Cignal | Channel TBA |
SatLite | Channel TBA |
G Sat | Channel TBA |
Cable | |
Cablelink | Channel 58 |
Sky Cable | Channel 70 |
Streaming media | |
Solar WatchNow | Watch Live (Philippines only) |
History
The channel is known for showing sports that are familiar to the Filipinos. Its main programming are the NBA games, which are shown either a game or a doubleheader each day during the season. Other NBA programming includes shows produced by NBA TV, such as the NBA's Greatest Games and WNBA games during the league's off-season. It also shows the American Super Bowl. It is also the Filipino provider of the Olympic Games.
It also shows boxing matches such as the ones from the promotions of Bob Arum, Don King and most recently, Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions. From 2002-2006, Solar Sports would cover the fights of Manny Pacquiao, until Pacquiao signed with ABS-CBN for the rights to cover his fights. However, Solar Sports regained the broadcast rights for Pacquiao's fights since 2007 when the channel signed a deal with GMA Network.
Other sports include Volleyball and Badminton, such as the JVC Badminton tournament and the first-ever Manny V. Pangilinan Badminton Tournament, pitting players from Asia and Europe, in 2005.
The network also launched Solar Sports Desk, a late-evening sports news program, similar to ESPN, those famed American sports programs such as SportsCenter. On October 2006, Solar Sports re-launch its channel, adding local shows.
The channel is available exclusively in Metro Manila through Global Destiny Cable as of 2008. It used to be available exclusively on Sky Cable, but the two parties ceased their partnership at end of 2007 but it will be back on July 1. All cable companies in the provinces can put the channel without having to worry about exclusive rights.
On April 10, 2017 Sky Cable & Destiny Cable dropped Solar Sports along with sister channels Basketball TV (now defunct), CT (now defunct), Jack TV & NBA Premium TV (now defunct) allegedly due to Sky Cable's unpaid carriage fees. On January 1, 2019 the channel was restored on Sky Cable after 1 year of carriage disputes.[1]
On October 1, 2019, Basketball TV ceased airing after 13 years, which means all remaining basketball-related programs will now air on Solar Sports. Among those basketball-related programs include NBL Philippines, Liga Endesa, FIBA World Basketball and Universities and Colleges Basketball League among others.
Programs
Current
- Basketball
- FIBA World Basketball
- Liga Endesa
- The Fifth Quarter
- Golf
- Boxing
- World Class Boxing (in cooperation with Golden Boy Promotions)
- Friday Fight Fest
- Glory Kickboxing
- Mobil 1 The Grid
- Pancrase
- OZ Style
- Football
- Motoring Today
- Auto Focus
- BWF Super Series
- Billiards
- World Wide Sports
- World of Athletics
- World of Badminton
- World of Free Sports
- World Baseball Classic
- Other
- Broken Skull
- Exterra Adventure
- Perspectives (Sports Documentaries)
- Sports Jobs with Junior Seau
- World Strongman Super Series
- 2 Months 2 Million
- UCI World Tour
Local programs
- Move (Digital Series)
- National Basketball League (Philippines)
- Shop TV
- Sagupaan
- San Juan Coliseum Derby Time
- Business & Leisure
- Universities and Colleges Basketball League
Former
- ATP Tour
- WTA Tour
- Davis Cup
- Fed Cup
- World of Tennis
- FLW Outdoor Tour Bass
- IDSF: Best of Dance Sports
- AVC Asian Women's Cup
- Greatest Classics
- Boxing at the Bay
- Saved by the Bell
- Fight Night Max
- Ringside
- Champions Tour
- A Round of Golf
- The Haney Project
- Trump's Fabulous World of Golf
- NBA on Solar Sports
- Philippine Basketball League (2002–2003)
- Undisputed
- WNCAA
- Fit To Hit: Philippine Beach Volleyball Invitational
- Hoop Nation
- In The Zone
- Auto Extreme
- Search TV
- ECW on Sci Fi
- UFC
- German Bundesliga
- LFP
- NFL
- 2006 Asian Games
- Gameplan
- Celebrity Poker
- The Ultimate Fighter
- NASCAR
- Billiards Pinoy
- Ferrari World
- U.S. Open
- French Open
- Bikini Destinations
- Golf Today
- Human Wrecking Balls
- Philippine Super Liga
- Poker Heaven
- Shakey's Girls Volleyball League (now Rebisco Volleyball League)
- Raceworld
- World Game
- Global Football
- Premier Darts
- K-1
- Smashing Action
- La Liga (moved to S+A, Liga)
- 2005 Manila SEA Games Coverage
- 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Coverage
- 2012 London Olympic Games Coverage
- Elite XC
- Liga Pilipinas
- 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games Coverage
- Sports Insider
- 2010 Singapore Youth Olympic Games Coverage
- Home Shopping Network
- Sports Desk
- PGA Tour
- National Capital Region Athletic Association
- X-Play
- Versus
See also
- Solar Entertainment Corporation
- Basketball TV (defunct channel)
- NBA Premium TV (defunct channel)
- S+A
- 5 Plus (defunct channel)
- Liga
- One Sports
- PBA Rush