Solar Sports is a Philippine digital free-to-air television network based in Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong, Philippines. It serves as the flagship network of Southern Broadcasting Network, a subsidiary of Solar Entertainment Corporation. The channel was originally launched as a cable channel on October 30, 2002, and is available for Sky Cable, Cablelink, Sky Direct, other local cable operators in the Philippines and via digital free-to-air television in Mega Manila starting October 7, 2024.
History
The channel is known for showing sports that are familiar to the Filipino audience. Its main programming are the NBA games, showing 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 to 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. In 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 (now defunct) & 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.
On October 1, 2019, Basketball TV ceased airing 13 years after it was first aired in 2006, 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.
On July 31, 2022, Solar Sports began broadcasting in anamorphic 16:9 aspect ratio. This change allowed for a widescreen presentation, optimizing the viewing experience for viewers with compatible widescreen televisions.
On September 20, 2024, Solar Sports announced on its Facebook page that the channel would become available on digital terrestrial television in key areas of Mega Manila via UHF Channel 21, starting October 7, 2024, marking its return to digital free-to-air television after two years, this time as a free-to-air non-encrypted format. Their logo was also changed prior to its move which they combined the 2002 and 2016 logos.
Programs Current Basketball B.League Billiards Cue Masters Boxing Bxstrs KOTV Classics KOTV Weekly UKC: Ultimate Knockout Challenge World Class Boxing (in cooperation with Golden Boy Promotions) Mixed martial arts Professional Fighters League Wednesday Warriors Motoring Arctic Race of Norway Auto Focus (2007) Auto Speed Le Mans Classic Motoring Today (2009) Mobil 1 The Grid Rallye des Princesses Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Marathon de Paris Next Stop Other Board Stories Homecourt UCI World Tour World of Free Sports World Sailing
Local programs AsiaBasket Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League National Capital Region Athletic Association Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championship Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League Shakey's Super League (also broadcast on ALIW 23) UGB MMA (Underground Battle MMA) Universal Reality Combat Championship Universities and Colleges Athletic League V-League
Other non-sports-related All-Out Action (Tagalog Action Movie Block) EZ Shop Oras ng Himala
Former 2 Months 2 Million A Round of Golf Action After Dark (Tagalog Late Night Movie Block) ATP Tour Auto Extreme Basketball FIBA World Basketball Liga Endesa The Fifth Quarter Billiards Pinoy Boxing at the Bay Business & Leisure BWF Super Series Car Matchmaker Celebrity Poker Champions League Basketball 3x3 (Australia) Champions Tour Davis Cup ECW on Sci Fi eGG Network (eSports) Elite XC Fed Cup Ferrari World Fight Night Max Fight Zone FLW Outdoor Tour Bass French Open Friday Fight Fest Friday Movie Timeout/Movie Timeout (Hollywood Movie Block) Gameplan German Bundesliga Global Football Glory Kickboxing Golf Ladies European Tour Golf Today Greatest Classics Home Shopping Network Hoop Nation Human Wrecking Balls IDSF: Best of Dance Sports In the Zone Jai-Alai Games K-1 La Liga LFP Liga Pilipinas Mosconi Cup Move (Digital Series) NASCAR National Basketball League National Basketball League-Youth NBA on Solar Sports NFL Other Broken Skull Exterra Adventure Game Changers Nomads OZ Style Perspectives (Sports Documentaries) Survivor The Biggest Loser Pancrase PGA Tour Philippine Basketball League Philippine Collegiate Champions League Philippine Super Liga Pilipinas Super League Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup Poker Heaven Premier Darts Raceworld Ringside Sagupaan San Juan Coliseum Derby Time Saved by the Bell Search TV Shifting Gears Shop TV Smashing Action Sports Desk Sports Insider Sports Jobs with Junior Seau The Fighters The Haney Project The Ultimate Fighter Trans World Sport Trump's Fabulous World of Golf UFC Undisputed U.S. Open Versus WNCAA Women's National Basketball League World Baseball Classic World of Athletics World of Badminton World of Tennis World Cup of Pool World Game World Pool Masters World Strongman Super Series World Wide Sports WTA Tour X-Play
Sports coverages 2005 Manila SEA Games Coverage 2006 Asian Games 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Coverage 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games 2010 Singapore Youth Olympic Games 2012 London Olympic Games Copa Libertadores Fit To Hit: Philippine Beach Volleyball Invitational Asian Women's Volleyball Cup Shakey's Girls Volleyball League
See also Solar Entertainment Corporation Basketball TV (defunct) NBA Premium TV (defunct) S+A (defunct) 5 Plus (defunct) Balls (defunct) Liga (defunct) NBA TV Philippines One Sports One Sports+ PBA Rush TAP Sports Premier Sports Blast Sports
References
External links