The sports channel is now available via free aerials in the region.
On Monday, October 7, Solar Entertainment Corporation’s flagship sports-oriented channel Solar Sports formally began its free TV broadcasts.
It made its return to digital terrestrial television (DTT) via the channel 21 frequency, which also houses sister channels SolarFlix and Shop TV.
Coinciding with that, the channel has also relaunched and introduced “a new look” that supersedes the prior logo, which was in use for almost 8 years.
This move marks the sports channel’s comeback of sorts to the digital television space, as it was previously accessible exclusively through Solar’s own DTT box Easy TV — which, however, ceased operations back in 2019.
Although, for a brief moment after the demise of Easy TV, Solar Sports became viewable once more via Solar’s digital free TV frequency in February 2022.
The channel’s official free-to-air premiere is also the first for Solar Entertainment as a company in more than two years.
The last time that the said media group launched something on free TV was in July 2022, when it replaced the long-running female-oriented channel ETC with the movie and drama channel SolarFlix.
Originally launched in 2002, the Solar Sports channel used to be the home of major sporting events like the Olympics and the National Basketball Association (NBA).
At present, it plays its role as the broadcast partner of the Philippine Football League, Shakey’s Super League, and the V-League Collegiate Challenge.
With its re-entry to the free-to-air space, Solar Sports adds to the list lf sports-oriented channels already available in the space, which includes Mediaquest’s One Sports and TAP DMV’s Blast Sports that airs via BEAM TV’s frequency.
In spite of its FTA launch, Solar Sports continues to be available on pay TV providers nationwide.