Solar News Channel

Summary

Solar News Channel (SNC) was a major commercial television network in the Philippines, owned by Solar Entertainment Corporation's arm television subsidiary of Solar Television Network lease with its owner by Radio Philippines Network. Its flagship television station was DZKB-TV channel 9 in Mega Manila and other regional stations in the Philippines. The station was operational 18 hours a day from 6:00 AM to midnight on free TV, while being available 24 hours on cable, satellite and internet TV providers.

Solar News Channel
TypeBroadcast commercial television network
Country
AvailabilityDefunct
Broadcast area
Nationwide
OwnerSolar Entertainment Corporation
(Solar Television Network)
Key people
Wilson Tieng (Chairman, Radio Philippines Network, Solar Television Network)
William Tieng (President, Solar Television Network)
Jing Magsaysay (Senior Vice President for News and Current Affairs head)
Robert T. Rivera (President and CEO, Radio Philippines Network)
Launch date
October 30, 2012
DissolvedAugust 22, 2014
Picture format
NTSC 480i (SDTV)
Sister channels
ETC, 2nd Avenue, Jack City
Affiliation(s)Southern Broadcasting Network (2012-2013) (50%)
Radio Philippines Network (2013-2014) (34%)
Official website
Solar News
LanguageEnglish (main)
Filipino, Cebuano, Kapampangan (secondary)
Replaced byETC (UHF Channel 21 Space)
9TV (VHF Channel 9 Space)

Most of its live programming from studios were located at Upper Ground Floor of the Worldwide Corporate Center, Shaw Boulevard corner Epifanio de los Santos Avenue in Mandaluyong with transmitter at No. 97, Panay Avenue, Brgy. South Triangle, Quezon City. The channel ceased broadcasting on August 22, 2014, and was replaced by 9TV.[1]

History edit

 
A Toyota HiAce van used by Solar News parked at the Office of the Ombudsman.

The network debuted on October 30, 2012, at 05:45 am (UTC +8:00) as a replacement for then all-news channel Talk TV on SBN 21—as such it is broadcast by all television service provider and terrestrial stations which formerly carried Talk TV.

It is the first all-English news channel to be aired on free TV in the Philippines, and the first channel of Solar Entertainment to air both on cable and free TV. Major part of the programming are local programs including news and current affairs programs from Solar News and foreign programs from NBC and CBS.

On December 1, 2013, Solar News Channel transferred to all RPN stations nationwide to widen its telecast while ETC returned to all SBN stations.[2][3][4]

Aside from the transfer, Solar News Channel launched its own mobile application for smartphone users. Its consists of features such as live streaming, catch-up episodes and latest news from the network's website, solarnews.ph.[5]

On August 13, 2014, Solar Television Network announced that Solar News Channel was to be replaced with 9TV by August 23, retaining the news and current affairs programming while expanding its weekend programming to cater more audiences which was started by the launching of "Kids Weekend" on August 23.[6]

Programming edit

Solar News Channel's programming consists of rolling news coverage and other news programming, along with documentaries, current affairs show, talk show, entertainment, sports news. Most of the foreign programs on this news channel are from American TV networks such as NBC and CBS, with programs dedicated for infomercials, religious, pre-school, and children's programs.

Kids Programming edit

News Programming edit

Affiliate edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ - Solar News Channel turns into 9TV retrieved August 14, 2014
  2. ^ Solar News Channel (November 5, 2013). "Expect wider reach and a richer viewing experience". Facebook. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  3. ^ Gomez, Lailany P. (December 2, 2013). "Solar News on free TV moves to channel 9". Manila Standard Today. LEENTech Digital Media Solutions. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  4. ^ "ETC MOVES TO SBN-21 STARTING NOVEMBER 30". ETC. November 13, 2013. Archived from the original on May 1, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  5. ^ "Solar News app: News you can use on the move". Solar News. November 29, 2013. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  6. ^ "Solar News Channel turns into 9TV". Solar News. August 13, 2014. Archived from the original on August 13, 2014. Retrieved August 14, 2014.