SolarFlix
SolarFlix (formerly Entertainment Central or ETC and visually rendered in its current logo in all capital letters) is a Philippine free-to-air television network owned by the Southern Broadcasting Network, a subsidiary of Solar Entertainment Corporation and former jointly operated with Nine Media Corporation (former Solar Television Network) from 2010 to 2014. Its digital free-to-air broadcast is carried by SBN's flagship station, DWCP-DTV (channel 21) in Metro Manila. Formerly carried over on RPN's flagship DZKB-TV along with 7 RPN stations nationwide (2011–2013; now as RPTV). The channel's analog broadcast is fed on its lone provincial TV station, DXSS-TV (channel 7) in Davao City (in which the station currently carries DepEd ALS TV programming). The channel is also carried by cable and satellite providers, including Sky Cable, Destiny Cable, Cablelink, Binangonan Cable TV Corporation, Cignal, SatLite, Sky Direct, and G Sat along with various provincial cable operators and through online streaming. SolarFlix operates daily from 8 a.m. to 12 midnight on Solar's digital free TV (under test broadcast), while it operates 24 hours daily on most pay TV and streaming service providers. However, since Holy Week 2021, it signs off from midnight on Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday at 8:00 a.m. along with its sister channels Solar Sports, Shop TV and Solar Learning. It previously operated daily from 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight on free-to-air analog TV broadcast until September 2019, when SBN permanently closed its analog signal. SolarFlix broadcasts from Solar's master control facility and studios located at the Third Floor Worldwide Corporate Center, Shaw Boulevard corner EDSA, Mandaluyong. Solar's office is located at the Solar Century Tower, 100 Tordesillas St., Corner H.V. Dela Costa St. Salcedo Village, Makati, while SBN holds free-to-air broadcasts from its transmitter and tower site located at Nuestra Señora de la Paz Subdivision, Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Antipolo, Rizal.
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| Type | Free-to-air television network |
|---|---|
| Country | Philippines |
| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Network | |
| Headquarters | Third Floor Worldwide Corporate Center, Shaw Boulevard corner EDSA, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines Solar Century Tower, 100 Tordesillas St., Corner H.V. Dela Costa St. Salcedo Village, Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines |
| Programming | |
| Languages |
|
| Picture format | 16:9 480i (SDTV) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Solar Entertainment Corporation |
| Parent | Nine Media Corporation (2010–2014) Southern Broadcasting Network (2008–present) Radio Philippines Network (2011–2013) |
| Sister channels | |
| History | |
| Launched | March 1, 2004 (as ETC) July 11, 2022 (as SolarFlix) |
| Replaced |
|
| Closed | July 11, 2022 (as ETC) |
| Former names | SBN (May 30, 1992 – December 1, 2013) ETC (March 1, 2004 – July 11, 2022) |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| SBN O&O stations | Digital: Channel 21 (Metro Manila) (LCN: 21.02) |
| SkyCable Metro Manila | Channel 16 |
| SkyTV Metro Manila | Channel 21 |
| Sky Direct Metro Manila | Channel 14 |
| Cignal TV Nationwide | Channel 21 |
| SatLite Nationwide | Channel 21 |
| G Sat Nationwide | Channel 23 |
SolarFlix (formerly Entertainment Central or ETC and visually rendered in its current logo in all capital letters) is a Philippine free-to-air television network owned by the Southern Broadcasting Network, a subsidiary of Solar Entertainment Corporation and former jointly operated with Nine Media Corporation (former Solar Television Network) from 2010 to 2014. Its digital free-to-air broadcast is carried by SBN's flagship station, DWCP-DTV (channel 21) in Metro Manila. Formerly carried over on RPN's flagship DZKB-TV along with 7 RPN stations nationwide (2011–2013; now as RPTV). The channel's analog broadcast is fed on its lone provincial TV station, DXSS-TV (channel 7) in Davao City (in which the station currently carries DepEd ALS TV programming). The channel is also carried by cable and satellite providers, including Sky Cable, Destiny Cable, Cablelink, Binangonan Cable TV Corporation, Cignal, SatLite, Sky Direct, and G Sat along with various provincial cable operators and through online streaming.
SolarFlix operates daily from 8 a.m. to 12 midnight on Solar's digital free TV (under test broadcast), while it operates 24 hours daily on most pay TV and streaming service providers. However, since Holy Week 2021, it signs off from midnight on Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday at 8:00 a.m. along with its sister channels Solar Sports, Shop TV and Solar Learning.[1] It previously operated daily from 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight on free-to-air analog TV broadcast until September 2019, when SBN permanently closed its analog signal.
SolarFlix broadcasts from Solar's master control facility and studios located at the Third Floor Worldwide Corporate Center, Shaw Boulevard corner EDSA, Mandaluyong. Solar's office is located at the Solar Century Tower, 100 Tordesillas St., Corner H.V. Dela Costa St. Salcedo Village, Makati, while SBN holds free-to-air broadcasts from its transmitter and tower site located at Nuestra Señora de la Paz Subdivision, Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Antipolo, Rizal.
History
[edit]As ETC (2004–2022)
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On March 1, 2004, Solar Entertainment launched ETC as "Entertainment Central," but test broadcasts started earlier on November 24, 2003.[citation needed]
SBN first era (2008–2011)
[edit]On January 1, 2008, ETC ceased airing as a separate channel on Sky Cable due to carriage dispute. As part of Solar's blocktime agreements with various terrestrial channels, ETC began airing on SBN 21, a terrestrial UHF TV station in the Philippines.
RPN era (2011–2013)
[edit]On March 2, 2011, after Solar TV Network acquired 34% share of Radio Philippines Network from the Philippine government as part of RPN/IBC privatization in 2011, ETC replaced Solar TV on RPN channel space. Meanwhile, Solar and SBN launched Talk TV on the same day as a part of formation of its news department.[2][3][4][5][6][7] On October 30, 2012, Talk TV rebranded as Solar News Channel.
SBN second era (2013–present)
[edit]ETC returned to SBN on November 30, 2013, as Solar News Channel moved to RPN on the following day, to enhance its nationwide coverage (however, SNC and RPN, were later sold to the ALC Group of Companies, chaired by Ambassador Antonio Cabangon Chua, in August the following year due to Tieng's loss of revenue after investing in RPN. On August 23, 2014, SNC rebranded as 9TV)[8][9]
After its sister channel, 2nd Avenue, ceased broadcasting on June 5, 2018—after 12 years on air—many of its programs moved to ETC.
On November 21, 2018, ETC unveiled its new station ID and on-air graphics. At the same time, the network launched new slogans, In Full Bloom and #IamETC.
On May 25, 2020, ETC began broadcasting in anamorphic 16:9 aspect ratio on free-to-air digital television. This change allowed for widescreen presentation, optimizing the viewing experience for viewers with compatible widescreen televisions.
As SolarFlix (2022–present)
[edit]On June 7, 2022, a new channel was teased with a voice-over saying, "May bagong kakaaliwan ngayong July. Kaya tutok lang. Sagot ka namin!" (transl. "There is something new to entertain you this July. So just tune in, and we'll be there for you!").[10] Then, on June 16, 2022, ETC unveiled the new channel, which was relaunched as SolarFlix on July 11, 2022, at 6 pm (PST).[11][12][13] SolarFlix is a Tagalog movie channel that features classic and independent Filipino films—most of which come from Solar Films' archives—as well as documentaries from local movie festivals, similar to GMA Network's I Heart Movies. Following the rebrand, Solar Entertainment Corporation informed some cable and satellite TV operators carrying ETC that the channel would be replaced by ScreamFlix from Jungo TV on June 20, 2022.[14] ScreamFlix carries the Front Row Channel and Hallypop (the latter previously broadcast as a digital subchannel on GMA Network).[15]
Programming
[edit]The channel targets the young adult demographics. SolarFlix's programming currently consists of Turkish dramas and Latin American telenovelas dubbed in Filipino under the ETCerye block, classic and independent Filipino films, and Hollywood and foreign-acquired movies. It has previously positioned itself as the female-oriented entertainment channel (ETC).
Relay and affiliate stations
[edit]See also
[edit]- Solar Entertainment Corporation
- Nine Media Corporation
- Radio Philippines Network
- Southern Broadcasting Network
- Nine Media News and Current Affairs
- DWCP-DTV
- Front Row Channel
- Solar TV
- Solar News Channel
- 9TV
Ratings
[edit]According to National Urban Television Audience Measurement, ETC is the top-ranked female television channel with cable and free TV (through RPN) ratings combined (January 2012 - May 2012) with a 10.33% audience share.[16]
References
[edit]- ^ [1] Facebook. Mar 31, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
- ^ ETC on RPN-9 starting March 2 Archived November 4, 2013, at the Wayback Machine retrieved via www.philstar.com Feb 25, 2011
- ^ Tiengs move into news Manila Standard Today. Feb 25, 2011. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
- ^ Coloma: Privatization of RPN 9, IBC 13 in the works retrieved March 1, 2011 GMA News Online
- ^ ETC Moves To RPN-9 on March 2 retrieved via www.clickthecity.com Feb 28, 2011
- ^ RPN 9 to lay off 200 workers Archived January 8, 2015, at the Wayback Machine retrieved October 1, 2012 InterAksyon.com
- ^ RPN-9 to cut 200 jobs, may stop airing 'Newswatch' retrieved October 2, 2012 Rappler
- ^ Solar News Channel - Expect wider reach and a richer viewing experience retrieved November 5, 2013
- ^ ETC MOVES TO SBN-21 STARTING NOVEMBER 30 Retrieved November 26, 2014
- ^ "May bagong kakaaliwan... ngayong July!". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
- ^ ETC transition to SolarFlix [11-JUL-2022]
- ^ ETC - Final Sign OFF via DTT [11-JUL 2022]
- ^ "Ngayong July 11. Dito ka na sa SOLARFLIX. Sagot ka namin!". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
- ^ ETC transition to ScreamFlix [22-JUN 2022]
- ^ "Galaxy Cable Corporation added... - Galaxy Cable Corporation". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
- ^ "ETC is the #1 Female Channel in the Philippines!". etc. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
External links
[edit]- Media Ownership Monitor Philippines - Television by VERA Files and Reporters Without Borders
