Solar Sports

Infobox TV channel
name = Solar Sports
logofile = Solar Sports Network.jpg
logoalt = Solar Sports logo
logosize = 150px
launch = 2002
slogan = Our Sports Channel!
web = [http://www.solarsports.ph/ http://www.solarsports.ph]
owner = Solar Entertainment Corporation
cable serv 1= Global Destiny Cable
cable chan 1= Channel 35
cable serv 2= CableLink
cable chan 2= Channel 31| sat serv 1= Dream Satellite TV
sat chan 1= Channel 37|
-And selected Cable TV Stations nationwide.

Solar Sports or the Solar Sports Network is a Philippine sports channel owned by Solar Entertainment Corporation. The channel was launched in 2002 and is available for Dream Satellite TV, Cablelink and various small-time cable subscribers. It is also available through premium service on Global Destiny Cable.

Programming

The channel is known for showing sports that are familiar to the Filipinos. Its main programming are the NBA games, which are shown either a game or a doubleheader each day during the season. Other NBA programming includes shows produced by NBA TV, such as the NBA's Greatest Games and WNBA games during the league's offseason. It also shows the American Super Bowl. It is also the Filipino provider of the Olympic Games.

It also shows boxing matches such as the ones from the promotions of Bob Arum, Don King and most recently, Oscar de la Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions. From 2002-2006, Solar Sports would cover the fights of Manny Pacquiao, until Pacquiao signed with ABS-CBN for the rights to cover his fights.

Other sports include Volleyball and Badminton, such as the JVC Badminton tournament and the first-ever Manny V. Pangilinan Badminton Tournament, pitting players from Asia and Europe, in 2005.

The network also launched "Solar Sports Desk", a late-evening sports news program, similar to those US famed sports programs such ESPN SportsCenter. On October 2006, solar sports re-launch its channel, adding local shows.

Programs

*NBA (2002-2006)**
*Boxing
*Solar Sports Desk
*Philippine Basketball League (2002-2003)***
*Undisputed
*WNCAA
*Hoop Nation
*In The Zone
*Auto Extreme(new)(2007)
*Search TV
*ECW ♠
*UFC ♣
*German Bundesliga
*LFP
*NFL
*2006 Asian Games
*Gameplan
*Celebrity Poker
*The Ultimate Fighter ♣
*NASCAR
*OZ Style
*Billiards Pinoy
*Ferrari World
*U.S. Open
*French Open
*Bikini Destinations
*Sagupaan Sabong Pinoy
*Golf Today
*Autofocus
*Poker Heaven
*Raceworld
*World Game
*Global Football
*Premier Darts
*K-1
*Smashing Action
*La Liga
*2008 Beijing Olympic Games Coverage*
*Elite XC

♠ - "Moved to Jack TV"

♣ - "Moved to Balls on Sky Cable"

(*) - "In conjunction with C/S, 2nd Avenue, ETC, Jack TV and Basketball TV"

(**) - "Moved to Basketball TV"

(***) - "Returned to Basketball TV in 2007 after Studio 23 purchased its rights exclusively in 2003.

Criticisms

The channel has been criticized by Filipino viewers for its coverage of NBA games since it was launched in 2002, as most games were shown on delayed basis instead of live coverage.

Viewers also criticized the amount of commercials during boxing matches, especially during fights of Manny Pacquiao. The channel responded by launching a Pay-per-View service of every Pacquiao match, or at times a Filipino boxer.

Solar Sports received more criticism when they aired the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. The live coverage was riddled with Advertisments every 5 minutes.

ee also

*Basketball TV
*C/S on RPN
*ETC on SBN
*Jack TV
*2nd Avenue on RJTV
*Solar Entertainment Corporation
*ABC
*ABS-CBN
*GMA Network

External links

* [http://www.solarsports.ph/ Official Site]