Balls (TV channel)
| Country | Philippines |
|---|---|
| Network | ABS-CBN Studio 23 |
| Headquarters | Quezon City, Philippines |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Creative Programs, Inc. (a subsidiary of ABS–CBN Corporation) |
Balls is a Filipino sports television network owned by Creative Programs, Inc., a subsidiary of ABS-CBN. It is managed by the sports division of ABS-CBN Corporation, ABS-CBN Sports. The channel operates non-stop 24/7.
History
ABS-CBN, a Filipino media organization, owns SkyCable, a cable television service which serves much of the country. In 2007, the company had a dispute with Solar Entertainment over broadcast contracts with Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao which lead to the removal of their channels from the service, such as Basketball TV (which is currently the official broadcaster of the Philippine Basketball League, which was formally shown on the ABS-CBN owned Studio 23 network, along with other major basketball leagues).
The Solar Entertainment channels were removed from SkyCable on January 1, 2008. In place of the displaced channels, SkyCable launched several new channels in their place. Along with Velvet and Maxxx, Balls was launched on SkyCable channel 34 on January 1, 2008. Although Balls was intended to replace it, Basketball TV was restored onto the SkyCable lineup in time for the 2008–09 NBA season in October 2008.
From its inception, Balls' programming featured all foreign sports coverage. However, beginning in June 2009, they also began broadcasting local sports programming through ABS-CBN Sports, beginning with NCAA Season 85 and UAAP Season 72, which were produced through subsidiary channel Balls HD (the first locally produced programs in high definition) and were replayed later in the night on Balls.
Programming
As suggested by its name, Balls primarily airs programs and sporting events related to ball sports such as football, basketball, tennis, and volleyball. The network also airs watersports, badminton, and live free Pay-Per-View boxing and Pay-Per-View UFC fights.
2010 Programming Highlights
- Euro-PGA Tour (golf)
- French Open 2010 (tennis)
- US Open 2010 (tennis)
- 2010 PGA Championship (golf)
- 2010 Ryder Cup (golf)
- 2010 FIFA World Cup (football)
- Balls Beach Soccer in April
- Father’s Day Golf Festival in June
- UFC 2010 Manila Media Tour
2011 Programing Highlights
- Euro-PGA Tour (golf)
- French Open 2011 (tennis)
- US Open 2011 (tennis)
- UEFA Champions League
- 2011 Southeast Asian Games
Other Programs
Balls HD
On July 13, 2009, SkyCable officially launched Balls HD. The first Cable HD service in the Philippines
See also
External links
- Balls on Multiply
- Balls at Telebisyon.net
