 Logo used since 2016 | |
| Type | Broadcastdigital free-to-airtelevision network |
|---|---|
| Country | Philippines |
| Headquarters |
|
| Programming | |
| Languages | Filipino (main) English (secondary) |
| Picture format | 1080i (HDTV) (downscaled to16:9480i for theSDTV feed) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Swara Sug Media Corporation |
| Key people | Marlon Rosete (President and CEO) Ludevija Ayang (Executive Producer) |
| Sister channels | SMNI |
| History | |
| Launched | May 24, 2016; 9 years ago (2016-05-24) |
| Founder | Apollo Quiboloy (Honorary Chairman) |
| Closed | December 19, 2023; 23 months ago (2023-12-19) (digital TV only, NTC ordered suspension) |
| Links | |
| Website | smninewschannel |
| Availability | |
| Streaming media | |
| Rumble | Watch Live (select programs only) |
SMNI News Channel (SNC; stylized inall caps), known on-air asSMNI News, is a Philippinefar-right[1][2]religiousfree-to-airnews andpublic servicetelevision network based inMakati. It is owned and operated bySwara Sug Media Corporation, the parent company ofSonshine Media Network International, a broadcasting arm of theKingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) led by Filipinotelevangelist and religious leader,Apollo Quiboloy.[3][4]
It airs national and international newscasts and talk shows, rolling news coverage from correspondents and reporters of SMNI Manila and other news bureaus in the Philippines and in more than 40 countries around the world, entertainment programs and news-related programs.[3]
It is exclusively aired overdigital terrestrial television on UHF Channels 39 and 43 inMetro Manila, and UHF Channel 19 inDavao Central and through more than 500 cable & satellite affiliates nationwide, selected programs simulcasting live via Facebook page, as well as on the main SMNI channel via analog and digital TV.[3]
* - denotes that this program is also simulcast on its main DTV channel,SMNI and Radio stationDZAR 1026.
| Channel | Video | Aspect | Short name | Programming | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39.01 | 480i | 16:9 | SMNI News Channel | SMNI News Channel | OFFLINE |
| 39.02 | 16:9/4:3 | SMNI | SMNI | ||
| 39.03 | 16:9 | SMNI Radio | DZAR |
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In June 2023, SMNI was recognized as the "Best Preeminent Broadcasting and Media Production Company" (international category) in the 16th Golden Globe Annual Awards for Business and Excellence.[11]
According to a report byRappler, the network allegedly fuels disinformation, misleading claims and propaganda to attack journalists and critics of theDuterte administration.[12][citation needed] It also has been accused of being afar-right channel in the Philippines.[1][2] The channel has been compared to AmericanFox News and CanadianRebel News.[2]
On 7 July 2023,YouTube terminated the channels of SMNI and one of its programs,Laban Kasama ang Bayan (translated fromTagalog:Fight with the People), along withKJC, following a previous ban on Quiboloy's YouTube channel which was terminated on 21 June.Google later stated that their actions were in compliance with existingsanctions by the United States against Quiboloy pursuant to theUS Global Magnitsky Act as well as allegations ofred-tagging misinformation; Quiboloy was previously indicted by theUnited States Department of Justice on charges of human trafficking and child sexual abuse.[13][14]
Quiboloy and SMNI later created accounts on thealt-tech video serviceRumble[15] as well as analternate account for SMNI on YouTube in defiance of sanctions;[16] the latter account was suspended by YouTube a few days later.[17] On 15 September 2023, the SMNI News' Facebook page was deleted, in accordance to Meta's Dangerous Organizations and Individuals Policy.[18] On 19 March 2025, Meta took down 3 Facebook pages affiliated with SMNI, including from DZAR 1026 citing "expressing hatred or contempt for a group of people and using harmful racial stereotypes" that violated Meta's community standards.[19]
SMNI is facing an administrative complaint filed in May 2022 before theNational Telecommunications Commission (NTC). Concepcion Empeño and Erlinda Cadapan, the mothers ofdisappeared students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan, and left-wing human rights groupKarapatan petitioned the NTC to revoke Swara Sug Media Corporation's franchise, for airing on SMNI an interview with convicted kidnapper and retired Army GeneralJovito Palparan.[20] The complainants said in a statement that the broadcast propagateddisinformation in violation of Republic Act No. 11422 and the 2007 Broadcast Code of the Philippines.[20][21] Palparan and program host Lorraine Badoy alsored-tagged former vice president and then-presidential candidateLeni Robredo during the broadcast, which the complainants alleged were in violation of Commission on Elections' Resolution No. 10730 involving truth in advertising and fair and accurate reporting.[21]
During former PresidentRodrigo Duterte's meeting withGeneral Secretary of the Chinese Communist PartyXi Jinping in July 2023, SMNI personnel, along with Quiboloy, met withChinesestate mediaChina Global Television Network (CGTN) executives to discuss a partnership for efficient information dissemination.[22][23]
On 28 November 2023, thePhilippine House Committee on Legislative Franchises launched an investigation on SMNI, following a report claimed byLaban Kasama ang Bayan co-host Jeffrey Celiz about travel expenses allocated toHouse SpeakerMartin Romualdez where he spent₱1.8 billion.Quezon2nd District RepresentativeDavid Suarez called the report "fake news".[24] TheKapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) also flagged SMNI, Celiz and co-hostLorraine Badoy for violating its Code of Ethics even when they were unaccredited broadcasters.[25][26]
SMNI faced legal scrutiny following the investigation, including the revocation of its congressional franchise.PBA Partylist Representative Margarita Nograles filed a resolution urging theNational Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to suspend the broadcast operations of SMNI for allegedly violating its franchise's terms and conditions.[27][28]Two programs were placed under a 14-day preventive suspension by theMovie and Television Review and Classification Board, effective 18 December 2023,[29] following reported complaints on their alleged violations.[30] Majority of board members voted to suspendGikan sa Masa, para sa Masa, where program host,former presidentRodrigo Duterte, allegedly twice aired threats againstACT Teachersparty-list representativeFrance Castro.[29][30]
The programLaban Kasama ng Bayan was unanimously suspended after an episode where one of the hosts, Jeffrey "Ka Eric" Celiz, questioned the travel spending ofHouse SpeakerMartin Romualdez in that year, citing unverified information from his source atthe Senate.[29][30] The House had Celiz cited in contempt for refusing to reveal his source on his inquiry; Celiz said he is bound by the Sotto Law, which protects journalists from revealing their sources.[31] Celiz was eventually detained for seven days together with his fellow host,Lorraine Badoy, who was also cited in contempt. Celiz and Badoy went on a hunger strike in response to the "travesty" of the House proceedings and their detention.[32] On 11 December, Celiz' wife and Badoy's husband, represented by lawyer and fellow SMNI hostHarry Roque, filed a petition before the Supreme Court to release the two news hosts on or before 15 December; the petition also asked the court to issue awrit of habeas corpus declaring their detention had no legal basis and to issue a writ declaring that the House acted with grave abuse of discretion.[33] Four days later, the House released Celiz and Badoy from detention citing "humanitarian reasonsdahil Kapaskuhan (because it is Christmas)".[34]
On 21 December, theNational Telecommunications Commission issued an order suspending operations of the entire SMNI for 30 days, as well as ashow cause order against the network.[35] On 22 January 2024, the NTC, per Deputy Commissioners John Paulo Salvahan and Alvin Bernardo Blanco, in a 6-page Cease and Desist Order, made the 30-day SMNI suspension indefinite: “Pursuant to Sec. 4, Rule 10, the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure… the Commission hereby directs respondent to cease and desist from operating its radio and television stations under the authorities enumerated in the 19 December 2023 show-cause-order (with 30-day suspension order pending hearing and final consideration of the above-captioned case).” The Order was signed after the House of Representatives said in Resolution 189 that "the SMNI violated several provisions of its franchise as provided under Republic Act 11422".[36][37]
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