ABS-CBN Sports and Action

S+A
Type Broadcast television network
Branding S+A
Country Philippines
Slogan Sumasaludo sa Pusong Palaban ng Lahing Pilipino (Saluting the Defiant Heart of the Filipino Generation)
TV stations List of stations
Headquarters ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center, Mother Ignacia Street, corner Sgt. Esguerra Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
Broadcast area
 Nationwide
Owner ABS-CBN Corporation
AMCARA Broadcasting Network
Key people
 March Ventosa (Head, ABS-CBN Narrowcast)
Dino Laurena (Head, ABS-CBN Sports)
Vince Rodriguez (Channel Head, S+A and Production Head)
Jojo Neri-Estacio (Channel Head, S+A HD)
Launch date
 January 18, 2014 (2014-01-18); 3 years ago (terrestrial)
July 10, 2015 (international)
January 1, 2016 (high-definition)
Former names
 Studio 23 (1996–2014)
Balls (2008–2015; cable/HD channel)
Picture format
 480i (SDTV) 16:9
1080i (HDTV)
Sister network
 ABS-CBN
Official website
 sports.abs-cbn.com/SportsAndAction
Language Filipino (main)
English (secondary)
S+A Global
Bro
Launched July 10, 2015
Owned by ABS-CBN
Picture format 480i (SDTV)
Slogan "Work Hard. Play Harder"
Country United States
Language Filipino
English
Broadcast area Worldwide
Headquarters 150 Shoreline Drive Redwood City, California 94065-1400
Formerly called Pinoy Central TV (2001-2007)
Kapamilya Channel (2007-2011)
Bro (2011-2015, 2017-present)
Sister channel(s) Cinema One, Myx TV, The Filipino Channel
Website www.tfc-usa.com
Availability
Satellite
OSN (MENA) Channel 701 (SD)

ABS-CBN Sports and Action (stylized as ABS-CBN Sports+Action or simply S+A or S and A),[1] is a Filipino commercial broadcast television network based in Quezon City. It is owned and operated by ABS-CBN Corporation with some of its programs produced and licensed by ABS-CBN Sports. In Metro Manila, Sports + Action is being broadcast terrestrially and thru digital terrestrial television through DWAC-TV (UHF channel 23), the frequency once used by the defunct national television network Studio 23 until its closure on January 16, 2014.[2][3] It began its operations on January 18, 2014, yet it did not became the company's sole channel for sports until the shutdown of cable counterpart Balls by the end of 2015.[4][5][6] Its high-definition channel is exclusively available in SKYcable, Destiny Cable and Sky Direct subscribers since 2016 while its international feed (carried with the same channel name) is being carried worldwide through The Filipino Channel (cable, satellite, IPTV, online video streaming, and video on demand). Sports + Action's programming is composed primarily of sports coverage such as UAAP, NCAA, National Basketball Training Center, BVR, PVL, ONE Championship, URCC, and ABL. The program line up of Sports + Action also includes other sports-related programming, news coverages and blocktimers.

Background

Logo from January 18, 2014 to August 28, 2016. Still used in International markets.

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 strong Studio 23 branding for it is well associated with entertainment programs of which the former channel only carries 30 percent of sports related / male-dominant content.[7][8]

Launching

The channel was officially launched in Glorietta 3, Ayala Center, Makati on January 16, 2014.[7] The event was attended by several well known Filipino athletes including Marlon Stockinger, Donnie Nietes, the Azkals 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 of UAAP, Top Rank and Pinoy Pride boxing bouts, and the Azkal's football matches.[4]

A test broadcast was done a day prior to its official launching on January 18, 2014.

The network's newest station ID featuring the dedication and spirit of the Filipino athletes was launched during It's Showtime last May 24, 2014. The song "Ito ang Ating Sandali", composed and performed by former Rivermaya vocalist Rico Blanco was used for the station identification.[9]

International feed

ABS-CBN Sports+Action was launched internationally in June 2015 via TFC, as the replacement of the BRO channel, the channel broadcasts several sports coverages, programs which also aired on Channel 23 and carry-up shows including leisure, comedy and action-packed movies.[10]

High-definition channel

On January 1, 2016, ABS-CBN Sports+Action, launched their high-definition cable channel (formerly known as Balls HD) on Sky Cable and Destiny Cable Channel 166 owned by ABS-CBN Cable Channels. Program line-up includes HD sports coverages of the UAAP, NCAA, Pinoy Pride, US Open, UEFA and FIVB matches. Unlike ABS-CBN HD which is a HD simulcast feed from ABS-CBN, ABS-CBN Sports+Action HD is a full breakaway feed from its main S+A channel which shows exclusive live events and other programs.[11]

In April 2017, S+A HD was converted into a HD feed simulcast channel of S+A Channel 23, similar to ABS-CBN HD.

2016 relaunch

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/songwriter Quest, 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.[12]

Programming

According to Sports 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.[13][14] Several programming of the now-defunct Balls channel (which ended transmission on December 31, 2015) were absorbed by S+A. However, all movie blocks and other action-related programs including US drama series were phased out in April 2017 in favor of additional sports coverages.

References

  1. 1 2 Dyan Castillejo (January 17, 2014). "Mga dapat abangan sa bagong sports channel ng ABS-CBN". TV Patrol (in Filipino). ABS-CBN News. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  2. ↑ Reuben Terrado (January 14, 2014). "Studio 23 to become an all-sports channel on free TV after reformatting". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  3. ↑ Eunice Blanco (January 17, 2014). "ABS-CBN turns Studio 23 into sports channel, launches ‘Sports & Action’". The Philippine Star. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  4. 1 2 Dennis Gasgonia (January 16, 2014). "ABS-CBN launches new sports channel". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  5. ↑ Rowena Tan (January 17, 2014). "ABS-CBN launches Sports+Action". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on January 17, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  6. ↑ "ABS-CBN Sports+Action, All New Sports Destination For Kapamilya Sports Fans". ABS-CBN Corporation. January 18, 2014. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  7. 1 2 Arniel C. Serato (January 17, 2014). "Studio 23 goes off the air; ABS-CBN launches new sports channel". Philippine Entertainment Portal. pp. 1–2. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  8. ↑ Kane Errol Chua (February 2, 2014). "A new home for sports & action programs". The Philippine Star. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  9. ↑ "ABS-CBN Sports+ Action SID "Ito ang Ating Sandali"". ABS-CBN. YouTube. May 24, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  10. ↑ "ABS-CBN SPORTS + ACTION, NOW AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE VIA TFC". ABS-CBN PR. ABS-CBN PR. June 18, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  11. ↑ "ON JANUARY 1, ABS-CBN SPORTS + ACTION HD LAUNCHES ON SKYCABLE". Mysky. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  12. ↑ "S+A HIGHLIGHTS PINOY ATHLETES’ VALUES ON NATIONAL HEROES DAY". ABS-CBN Social Media Newsroom. August 26, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  13. ↑ Reuben Terrado (January 16, 2014). "After launch of sports channel, ABS-CBN official says PBA games an 'enticing content'". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  14. ↑ Reuben Terrado (January 17, 2014). "ABS-CBN sports channel committed to live airing of top events, says officials". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
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