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Solar Entertainment Corporation

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Solar Entertainment Corporation
Company typePrivate
IndustryMedia company
FoundedJanuary 3, 1976; 48 years ago (1976-01-03) (as a TV moviemaking)
July 15, 1988; 36 years ago (1988-07-15) (as a film distribution company)
June 17, 2000; 24 years ago (2000-06-17) (as a cable channels network)
January 1, 2008; 16 years ago (2008-01-01) (as a broadcast company)
FounderWilliam Y. Tieng
Willy Y. Tieng
Headquarters
Ground Floor, Worldwide Corporate Center, EDSA corner Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City
,
Philippines
Area served
Nationwide
Key people
Wilson Y. Tieng (Chairman, President and CEO)
Georgett Tengco (Vice President for Channel Management)
Gregorio Perez (CFO)
ProductsETC, 2nd Avenue, Jack TV, CT, Basketball TV, Solar Sports, Solar All Access, NBA Premium TV, Shop TV, Solar Films
ServicesFree-to-air TV channels and shows, radio broadcasting, cable television, local and international film distribution, moviemaking, entertainment, television programs and production, news, sports, websites
OwnerTieng family (under the Tieng brothers) (70%)
Private stocks (30%)
Number of employees
201 - 500
DivisionsETC Productions
Websitewww.solarentertainmentcorp.com

Solar Entertainment Corporation (simply known as Solar or SEC) is a Filipino media company founded and owned by the siblings of the Tieng family (Wilson, William & Willy Tieng). Private stockholders, however, manage a minority share of the company.

Solar Entertainment currently operates five free-to-air channels (one through Solar's subsidiary SBN and a blocktime agreement with RJTV, plus three digital-only channels) and four cable channels.[1] Solar also owns a film distribution company (Solar Films).

History

Early years

Solar Entertainment was founded and established by the brothers William Tieng, Wilson Tieng and Willy Tieng in 1976. Solar Films was then formed in 1988 (one of the first films that distributed by Solar Films is Rambo III of Silvester Stalone), bringing international films (and later, local films since 2009) to the Philippines. Since 2012, Solar has collaborated with independent film director Brillante Mendoza for a multiple film contract.[2] On March 18, 2015, Solar launched the Sinag Maynila film festival is, which featured five films from a talented group of directors, each with a different vision and approach. The films were shown in select SM Cinemas from March 18 to 24, 2015. The winners were announced at the “Gabi ng Parangal” on March 22.

Cable television

On January 1, 1994, Solar launched on cable television as the Solar Entertainment Channel.

In the year 2000, DOMSAT became Solar's subsidiary. As a result, DOMSAT’s teleport is being used by Solar to produce, originate, and distribute its various television program services. Its full service digital broadcast teleport features server technology facility located in Barangay Sta. Cruz, Sumulong Highway, Antipolo City, Rizal. It is built around two encoder platforms, Scientific Atlanta Power Vu Classic(DVB) and Motorola Digicipher II(MPEG-@). Program origination is done on a SeaChange Media Cluster Server System. The facility includes a 500 square meter studio and various linear and non-linear production bays.[3] Solar Entertainment first launched its namesake entertainment cable channel in the early 2000s, one devoted to American programs. This channel was later known as Solar USA (the acronym stands for "Ultimate in Suspense and Action"), and then later simply as USA before it was replaced by two separate channels.

On January 2004, Solar launches on cable sports alternative channel as Sports Plus.

On August 23, 2004, Solar Entertainment launched ETC or Entertainment Central, which is positioned as the country’s premier cable female entertainment channel. ETC is a platform that brings its audience closer to their aspirational lifestyle, as embodied by their idols.

In May 5, 2005, it test launched delivering debbuting service. Intended for a predominantly male audience, the company launched the country’s leading general entertainment cable channel, Jack TV, in July.

On October 15, 2005, Solar Entertainment launched a crime and action cable channel, Crime/Suspense or C/S.

On December 15, 2005, Solar Entertainment launched a spin-off channel to ETC, ETC 2nd Avenue, a lifestyle and general entertainment channel. Started as a test broadcast on December 15, 2005, and had its full launch in 2006. The channel was later renamed as 2nd Avenue on January 17, 2007.

On October 1, 2006, Sports Plus ceased broadcasting and replaced by the Basketball TV channel formed by Solar, while moving most of Sports Plus programs to Solar Sports.

As a broadcast company

On January 1, 2008, Solar Entertainment Corporation began to lease block airtime with terrestrial TV networks, RPN, SBN and RJTV. The move was a result of SkyCable pulling out C/S, ETC, and 2nd Avenue from the cable company's lineup at their own right. Those three started carrying shows from Solar's, with C/S on RPN, ETC on SBN, and 2nd Avenue on RJTV.

Former logo of Solar Sports

On May 22, 2009, a victory party for Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, who just became the new IBO (International Boxing Organization) and Ring Magazine Light Welterweight Champion, was held at the Renaissance Hotel in Makati City, in partnership with GMA Network Inc. Solar and GMA executives at that time signed for a partnership in TV coverage of Manny Pacquiao's upcoming boxing matches.[4]

The C/S cable channel was later rebranded as C/S Origin in September 2008, while the RPN network later changed its branding to C/S 9 the next month.


On November 29, 2009, Solar rebranded C/S9 as Solar TV at 11:00am with a slogan It's A Bright New World on RPN. On October 31, 2010, it changed some of its programming content to English/Tagalog with a new slogan Kung Saan Lahat Panalo!.

On February 11, 2011, SEC partnered with ABS-CBN Corporation to air National Basketball Association (NBA) games over free TV starting February 19, 2011. The games will be aired on Studio 23 (later became ABS-CBN Sports and Action) and ABS-CBN, but Solar still airs the games daily on BTV.[5]

Logo of Solar TV as a television network

On March 2, 2011, after SEC acquired 34 percent of RPN's shares from the Philippine government as part of RPN/IBC privatization in 2011, Solar TV finally ventured into news at the end of 2011. On that same day, ETC moved to RPN while TalkTV launched over SBN. TalkTV is formed by then Solar-owned Solar Television Network. The first programs that aired on the channel are Dateline NBC, Today Show, Today's Talk, NBC Nightly News, Inside Edition, Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Show with David Letterman.[6][7]

On April 8, 2011 Solar Entertainment Corporation launches The Game Channel on Destiny Cable. It conducted its initial test broadcast from April 8, 2011 until September 29. It was then began airing on BEAM Channel 31 on August 15, 2011, after BEAM and Solar signed an affiliation deal, which gives the latter to use the former's facilities. Full broadcast started on September 30, 2011.

On May 31, 2011, ETC launched the slogan "Young and Loving It". It also saw new programs such as the reality series The Rachel Zoe Project and Bachelor Pad, drama series Nikita, and The Secret Circle, US hit reality series The Glee Project, comedy shows like New Girl and 2 Broke Girls, and local lifestyle show Etcetera. In 2012, ETC includes the reality show American Idol, local programs like Project Runway Philippines (season 3), drama series The Lying Game, Emily Owens MD and Beauty and the Beast, and local infotainment show ETC HQ. In 2013, ETC aired comedy-drama series The Carrie Diaries, sitcom series Super Fun Night, supernatural drama series Ravenswood, horror fantasy drama series The Originals and among others.

Solar News, known for its back-to-basics and unbiased journalism was formed in January 2012 during the coverage of the Impeachment Trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona. Post-EDSA revolution ABS-CBN newsmen Pal Marquez, Jing Magsaysay and Pia Hontiveros together with former ANC anchors Claire Celdran, Mai Rodriguez and Nancy Irlanda known as the pillars of Solar News. Most of its news reporters are from ABS-CBN and ANC, as well as from RPN NewsWatch.[8][9]

On December 24, 2011, The Game Channel limited its broadcast on daytime sharing with a new programming service called CHASE which takes over the evening block. In February 2012, both services aired a promotion, announcing the split of CHASE and TGC to form themselves as separate channels. On February 15, 2012, The Game Channel finally shuts down on free TV and was relaunched as a cable channel; CHASE was also relaunched as a separate channel, now occupying the entire BEAM broadcast airtime on Free TV.

On April 3, 2012, Solar transferred its former Salcedo Village facilities to their new facility in Worldwide Corporate Center in Mandaluyong City.[10] It also featured a newly constructed set for Solar's then-news division, which would become fully functional three months later.

On July 16, 2012, Solar News launches its first local newscast Solar Network News, followed by Solar Nightly News, an hourly Solar News Update, Solar Daybreak, and Solar Newsday.

On September 7, 2012, Jack TV plugged their announcement thru CHASE programs bearing the title "Another Jack TV is rising, coming soon on this channel" (BEAM Channel 31). This indicated that CHASE was being replaced; finally, on October 20, 2012, Jack City was then launched, marking October 19 as the end of CHASE's broadcasts. Jack City still does carry some of CHASE's programs however.

In October 2012, it was found out that Solar News will replace the government-controlled RPN News, as a result of RPN's privatization, making Solar TV covering the entire network's airtime. More than 200 RPN employees, particularly those from the labor union and the NewsWatch staff, were retrenched and RPN News was closed down on October 29, effectively axing NewsWatch and NewsCap. Some retrenched government employees were relocated to either People's Television Network (PTV 4) or Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC 13) (both State-run broadcasters).

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

On October 30, 2012, at 5:45 am, TalkTV was replaced as Solar News Channel on Channel 21 via SBN. The channel saw the relaunch of sports news program Solar Sports Desk (now known as CNN Philippines Sports Desk), as well as the initial telecast of the Solar News and Current affairs block in November 2012 composing of 5 public affairs programs (namely Legal HD, MedTalk, News.PH, Opposing Views, Elections 2013 and News Cafe), 60 Minutes, Top Gear, Undercover Boss and the "Stories" Documentaries block. In January 2013, Solar News Cebuano (now known as CNN Philippines Cebuano News) made history as the first National newscast delivered in a local dialect. In 2014, it also launched the Kapampangan national newscast, Kapampangan News and the public service program Serbisyo All Access which shown in Filipino language.

Prior to the channels transfer to RPN, SNC's flagship newscast (Solar Network News) simulcasted on RPN 9 (free TV only) from the SNC's launch. The news content for RPN (then affiliated with ETC), however, was switched to Solar Nightly News on January 14, 2013 onwards, to avoid backlash from Free TV viewers, particularly Free TV viewers of American Idol (in which the original plan was to replace the 6pm via satellite broadcast to Free TV viewers by Network News, then airs the AI episodes at the 8pm rerun in simulcast with cable/satellite viewers). Throughout the American Idol season, as the episodes are repeated at 8 PM on cable, Solar used the separate Free TV-only feed, that contains reruns of selected ETC shows (but with advertisements replaced by ETC teasers and promotions) at 8 PM and Nightly News at 9 PM (with additional ETC programs, if necessary) to be used by RPN after each AI via satellite episode before RPN returns to the main ETC feed at 10 PM. This is to retain RPN's news content as it then has no newscast since the axing of NewsWatch.

On January 3, 2013, SEC launched Blink Cinema (later renamed as My Movie Channel) with the full broadcast taking effect later that month.

On April 14, 2013, TV5 Network and Solar Entertainment Corporation have joined forces to broadcast the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship in Manila on Philippine television from August 1–11. Aside from TV5 and its sister channel (AksyonTV), the games were also broadcast over Solar’s cable channel Basketball TV.[11]

New management

On May 22, 2013, Solar Entertainment Corporation appointed two officers to manage its broadcasting and cable businesses - Manuel “Meckoy” Quiogue as Chief Commercial Officer and Maria Theresa “Mitos” Borromeo as Chief Operating Officer.[12] However, a few days after the announcement, Quiogue suddenly died on May 31, 2013, prior to assuming his position.[13]

On June 28, 2013, Jack City was forced to reduce its Free TV broadcast to 18 hours a day on BEAM in compliance with the National Telecommunications Commission's guidelines. However, it still continues to air as a cable channel 24 hours a day.

On November 9, 2013, San Miguel Corporation president and COO, Ramon Ang, explored the possibility of acquiring a controlling stake in Solar Entertainment Corporation in his personal capacity.[14][15] However, no further announcements were made after this and Ang subsequently reached an agreement to acquire a minority stake.[16]

Solar News Channel and its partnership moved to RPN 9 on December 1, 2013, while ETC returned to SBN Channel 21 a day before. (ETC was aired on SBN-21 from 2008 to 2011 then to RPN-9 from 2011 to 2013),[17] as well as the launch of Solar's video-on-demand website Blink. As a result of the channel swap (on RPN's part), Network News and Nightly News became newscasts on its own right.

In 2014, Solar Entertainment's Solar One Boracay happened during the Labor Day weekend to showcase its channels (ETC, 2nd Avenue, JackTV, JackCITY, My Movie Channel, The Game Channel, Solar Sports, BTV and NBA Premium TV) through various summer activities all over the island.[18]

On August 20, 2014, Solar Entertainment Corporation chief Wilson Tieng announced that he ceded his entire share on Solar TV Network, Inc., including its 34% majority share on RPN, to Antonio Cabangon Chua, owner of business daily BusinessMirror and Aliw Broadcasting Corporation.[19][20] Tieng sold Solar TV because they are losing money for operations after purchasing RPN. As a result of this ownership change, STVNI, Solar News Channel and RPN's majority stake were separated from the Tiengs; while ETC, 2nd Avenue, and Jack City were reverted to Solar Entertainment's ownership.

On September 1, 2014, Jack City ended its run on free TV due to the preparations being made by BEAM 31 for the incoming transition to ISDB-T digital television, though it continues to be broadcast as a separate cable channel. However, Jack City continues to broadcast on cable networks until March 21, 2015. After Jack City's closure to free TV, BEAM aired under blocktime programs from O Shopping (of ABS-CBN and CJ Group of Korea) later Shop Japan, TV Shopping Philippines, all telenovela programs dubbed in Tagalog language and several programs from TBN Asia plus religious programming produced by the Essential Broadcasting Network under the leadership of Bro. Greg Durante of Greg Durante Ministries. On November 15, 2014, BEAM began being carried on SkyCable and Destiny Cable subscribers (per compliance with NTC's "must-carry" basis). This move resulted of Jack City in a change of its channel assignment for SkyCable and Destiny Cable subscribers, as well as several pay TV companies.

In 2015, Solar Entertainment Corporation launched the #1stonPHTV brand of Solar channels for ETC, 2nd Avenue, Jack TV, Jack City and My Movie Channel, with the brand implemented on January 6, 2015. Since then, all SEC channels broadcast first-run foreign television programs with the hashtag #1stonPHTV (First on Philippine TV), which was formerly known as "Match Airing" (ETC), "Playing 1st" (Jack TV), "The Newest in the US" & "FastCast" (2nd Avenue) and "See It First" (Jack City).

The Game Channel, after almost 3 years on broadcasting, selling or ceased on February 28, 2015. The channel space was taken over by My Movie Channel on March 1.

On March 22, 2015, Jack City was replaced by CT, thus becoming independent from its parent network. Upon launch, the channel broadened its programming focus by adding talk shows, sitcoms and men's lifestyle programs to its roster.

On March 26, 2015, Solar Entertainment announced its broadcast of the Fight Of The Century between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 3, 2015.[21] As stated in a press conference that day, it was broadcast on May 3 via delayed broadcast in three major television stations in the Philippines, ABS-CBN, TV5, and GMA Network (who waivered its exclusive contract with Solar to allow its multi-network coverage, but maintained its exclusive live broadcast on its radio division), with Solar Sports as its main content provider for this historic event in boxing.[22][23]

On July 1, 2015, My Movie Channel ceased broadcasting. The closure or selling was announced by Solar a day before.

Rebranding of the four flagship networks

In the 3rd quarter of 2016, Solar announced that they will implement major changes to its flagship networks, such as ETC, 2nd Avenue, Basketball TV and Solar Sports. The four networks unveiled their new logos, on-air graphics and station IDs, which took effect on October 16, 2016. while another Solar Entertainment channels CT, Jack TV and NBA Premium TV will remain unchanged.

Divisions

  • ETC Productions

Subsidiaries

Notable local films released/distributed by Solar

Broadcast Assets

Terrestrial TV channels

  • ETC (Cable TV: 2004-2007, SBN 21: 2008-2011, 2013–present, RPN 9: 2011-2013)
  • 2nd Avenue (Cable TV: 2005-2007, RJTV 29: 2008-present, formerly ETC 2nd Avenue)

Former subsidiary, divisions and broadcast Assets

Cable TV channels

Defunct channels

1Joint venture with Universal Networks International

From SkyCable to Terrestrial Television

Solar's channels have ceased airing on SkyCable, the Philippines' largest cable television provider. An insider claims that these troubles with SkyCable started when boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao, whose fights Solar Entertainment has the exclusive right to air and distribute to, moved from ABS-CBN, the flagship television network of ABS-CBN Corporation and the primary owner of Sky Cable Corporation, to rival GMA Network.[citation needed] Another insider claims that SkyCable wanted to remove ETC and JackTV to make room for their own channels, Velvet (now defunct) and Maxxx (now defunct).[citation needed] SkyCable wanted to retain C/S, 2nd Avenue, Solar Sports and Basketball TV, but Solar made a decision that they will only renew their contract if SkyCable carries all six channels. Thus, Solar decided to pull out all their channels rather than remove ETC and Jack TV.

However, Solar has inked a deal with local terrestrial channels TV5, RPN, SBN and RJTV for block-time programming. C/S, ETC and 2nd Avenue programming are seen on terrestrial TV channels RPN, SBN and RJTV, respectively, while NBA and WWE programming were seen on TV5, now moved to RPN.

Basketball TV, Solar Sports and C/S Origin (now defunct) are now back on SkyCable for no additional fee. Jack TV is also scheduled to return to SkyCable effective October 1, 2010 replacing Maxxx.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao's boxing promotion, Top Rank, signed a non-guaranteed contract with ABS-CBN Sports to exclusively air fights promoted by Top Rank, with the exception of Pacquiao fights which are still signed exclusively through Solar Entertainment.

Dream Satellite TV

Dream Satellite TV ceased carrying three (3) Solar Channels namely, Solar Sports, ETC and 2nd Avenue (Except C/S 9) effective 1 February 2009. Dream's carriage contract with Solar Entertainment, which expired on 31 December 2008 was not renewed by Dream, citing financial constraints as its main reason. The three Solar channels were replaced by A&E's The History Channel, Biography Channel and Crime and Investigation Channel.

See also

References

  1. ^ List of Solar Networks
  2. ^ http://www.solarentertainmentcorp.com/about/page/solar_today
  3. ^ "MVP-Ang rivalry set to spill over into television with San Miguel acquisition of Solar stake". November 9, 2013. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  4. ^ GMA victory party for Manny "Pac-Man" Pacquiao
  5. ^ ABS-CBN to air NBA games on free TV
  6. ^ Agustin, Victor C. (February 25, 2011). "Tiengs move into news". Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2014. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |registration=, |subscription=, and |separator= (help)
  7. ^ Coloma: Privatization of RPN 9, IBC 13 in the works GMA News Online. 03-01-2011 Retrieved 03-01-2011
  8. ^ 200 RPN 9 employees to lose jobs GMA News Online. 10-02-2012 Retrieved 10-02-2012
  9. ^ Ramon Ang says in talks to buy Solar Entertainment ABS-CBNNews.com. 10-04-2012 Retrieved 10-04-2012
  10. ^ Solar News Update debuts new look
  11. ^ TV5, Solar team up for 2013 FIBA Asia Championship coverage
  12. ^ Solar Entertainment Corp. appoints 2 new officers retrieved May 22, 2013 9News
  13. ^ http://www.bworldonline.com/weekender/content.php?id=73221
  14. ^ San Miguel's Ang keen on Solar TV, owner of RPN9
  15. ^ 'Meeting of minds' reached in talks with Ramon Ang for investment, says Solar chairman retrieved October 30, 2012 InterAksyon.com
  16. ^ Exclusive: BusinessMirror owner acquires majority stake in RPN9
  17. ^ New investor vows to turn RPN9 around
  18. ^ [1]
  19. ^ Exclusive: BusinessMirror owner acquires majority stake in RPN9, InterAksyon.com, August 20, 2014
  20. ^ Cabangon-Chua acquires RPN-9, philstar.com, August 21, 2014
  21. ^ ABS-CBN, GMA, TV5 join hands to air Pacquiao fight: Networks unite for historic broadcast
  22. ^ Pacquiao vs Mayweather to be televised by GMA, ABS-CBN and TV5
  23. ^ Pacquiao-Mayweather fight to air live over GMA radio stations nationwide
  24. ^ 8 official entries in 2009 MMFF bared Philstar.com.
  25. ^ Ricky Lo. Flames of Love celebrates the Year of Faith Philstar.com.

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