 | |
| Type | Free-to-airtelevision network |
|---|---|
| Country | Philippines |
| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Stations | List of stations |
| Headquarters | ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center, Mother Ignacia Street, corner Sgt. Esguerra Avenue, Diliman,Quezon City |
| Programming | |
| Languages | Filipino (main) English (secondary) |
| Picture format | 480i (SDTV) 1080i (HDTV) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | ABS-CBN Corporation |
| Key people |
|
| Sister channels | |
| History | |
| Founded | January 18, 2014 |
| Launched | January 18, 2014 (2014-01-18) (terrestrial) June 2015 (international) January 1, 2016 (high-definition) |
| Replaced | |
| Closed | May 5, 2020 (2020-05-05) (broadcast franchise lapsed/expired) December 2, 2020 (2020-12-02) (international) (6 years, 10 months and 14 days) |
| Replaced by |
|
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Network | S+A |
| Headquarters | Daly City, California |
| Programming | |
| Languages | Filipino (main) English (secondary) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | ABS-CBN Corporation |
| Sister channels | |
| History | |
| Launched | July 10, 2015 |
| Closed | December 2, 2020 |
| Replaced by | Cine Mo! Global |
| Former names |
|
ABS-CBN Sports and Action (stylized asABS-CBN Sports+Action or simplyS+A orS and A)[1] was afree-to-airtelevision network based inQuezon City. It was owned byABS-CBN Corporation with some of its programs produced and licensed byABS-CBN Sports. In Metro Manila, Sports + Action broadcast terrestrially and throughDTT throughDWAC-TV (UHF channel 23), the frequency once used by the defunct national television networkStudio 23 until its closure on January 17, 2014, with most of its UHF affiliate stations in the provinces owned byAMCARA Broadcasting Network.[2][3][4] It began its operations on January 18, 2014, yet it did not become the company's sole channel for sports until the shutdown of subscription-based counterpartBalls by the end of 2015.[5][6][7] Its simulcast high-definition channel was exclusively available onSky Cable,Destiny Cable andSky Direct since 2016, while its international feed (carried with the same channel name) carried worldwide throughThe Filipino Channel. Sports + Action's programming is composed primarily of sports coverage such asMPBL,ABL,UAAP,NCAA, Pinoy Pride fights,BVR,PVL andONE Championship. The program line up of Sports + Action included other sports-related programming, news coverages and blocktimers. S+A broadcast Mondays to Saturdays from 5:00 am to 1:00 am and Sundays from 4:00 am to 1:00 am.
On May 5, 2020, the station's broadcasting activities, together with that of its sister television and radio stationsABS-CBN,DZMM, andMOR Philippines, were ordered to sign off the air at 7:52 pm following the cease-and-desist order (CDO) issued by theNational Telecommunications Commission due to theexpiration of ABS-CBN's legislative license to operate. S+A continued to air internationally through The Filipino Channel until December 2.
On January 5, 2022, its former UHF frequencies (channel 23 and 43) were assigned by the NTC toAliw Broadcasting Corporation (forchannel 23) andSwara Sug Media Corporation (forchannel 43).[8] However, SSMC ceased operations on December 21, 2023 due to NTC's suspension order.
According to ABS-CBN Narrowcast Head March Ventosa, the division started developing the concept of a sports channel of free television for a year. Also with its launching, the management decided to drop the strongStudio 23 branding for it is well associated with entertainment programs of which the former channel only carries 30 percent of sports related content.[9][10]
The channel was officially launched inGlorietta 3,Ayala Center,Makati on January 17, 2014.[9] The event was attended by several well known Filipino athletes includingMarlon Stockinger,Donnie Nietes, thePhilippines national football team,Jeron Teng, and some ABS-CBN executives and personalities.[1] The event also provided a glimpse of its program lineup which includes sports coverage ofUAAP,Top Rank and Pinoy Pride boxing bouts, and the Philippines national football team matches.[5]
A test broadcast was done a day prior to its official launching on January 18, 2014.[citation needed]
The network's newest Station ID featuring the dedication and spirit of the Filipino athletes was launched duringIt's Showtime in 2014. The song "Ito ang Ating Sandali", composed and performed by formerRivermaya vocalistRico Blanco was used for the station identification.[11]
ABS-CBN Sports+Action was launched internationally in June 2015 via TFC, as the replacement of the BRO channel, the channel broadcast several sports coverages, programs which also aired on Channel 23 and carry-up shows including leisure, comedy and action-packed movies.[12]
On January 1, 2016, the channel launched its own high-definition feed (formerly known as Balls HD) on Sky Cable and Destiny Cable. Its program line-up included HD sports coverages of the UAAP, NCAA, Pinoy Pride, US Open, UEFA and FIVB matches. Unlike ABS-CBN HD, which was an HD simulcast feed from ABS-CBN, ABS-CBN Sports+Action HD initially was a separate channel from S+A which aired exclusive live events and other programs.[13]
In April 2017, S+A HD converted into an HD feed simulcast channel of S+A Channel 23, similar toABS-CBN HD.[citation needed]
On August 29, 2016, in time with the National Heroes Day celebration, S+A debuted its new logo and station ID campaign entitled "Sumasaludo sa Pusong Palaban ng Lahing Pilipino" or "Salute to the Defiant Heart of Filipino Generation", in line with the network's continuous advocacy on promoting sports development and supporting the Filipino athletes and sporting teams that made pride and glory to the Filipino sporting community and its values and hardwork. The song "Tibay", performed by singer/songwriterQuest, was used in the station ID, which featured athletes from the sports coverages covered by ABS-CBN Sports+Action, such as UAAP, NCAA, boxing and MMA events.[14]
Beginning August 2018, S+A began to broadcast 24 hours of sports coverage a day similar to the national ABS-CBN, in which however, only for selected sports programs that aired on early mornings.[citation needed]
On May 5, 2020, theNational Telecommunications Commission issued a cease and desist order againstABS-CBN Corporation, forcing all of its television stations, including S+A, to stop their operations immediately due to the expiration of its legislative franchise.[15] But some S+A programs were moved through its cable and satellite channelLiga as ad interim.
TV Patrol's special episode dedicated to the cease-and-desist order ofABS-CBN's free TV and radio stations was the final show to be aired on S+A before the network signed off indefinitely.
After five years, S+A Global ceased its broadcast operations internationally throughThe Filipino Channel on December 2, 2020, due to implementation of a retrenchment program covering its business company from August 7, following theHouse of Representatives' 70–11 vote denying the company a fresh congressional franchise on July 10 and the dissolution ofABS-CBN Sports to close its business effective August 31, 2020.
According toSports Interactive Network, S+A's programming line-up comprised by 70 percent of its contents will be about sports, with the remaining of it covering Filipino action films, news updates, and other entertainment, informative & religious programs such as blocktimers.[16][17] Several programming of the now-defunctBalls channel (which ended transmission on December 31, 2015) were absorbed by S+A. However, all movie blocks, news updates and other action-related programs including US drama series were phased out in April 2017 in favor of additional sports coverages.
 Pay-TV channels and networks based in the Philippines | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1 Joint venture. 2 Partnership. 3 Distribution. 4 Continued broadcast on international and online. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||