(Guest Blog Post)
Wikipedia: Removal of Solar Entertainment's Channels. There were rumors that Basketball TV will be removed on SkyCable early next year and the Balls channel, that is under test broadcast will be the replacement. Some people speculate that this move by Sky and/or Solar will really disappoint avid basketball fans especially those who subscribed to SkyCable just only to watch NBA games live. Reports broke out stating that all Solar's Channels will be removed on SkyCable starting January 1, 2008. Some say there has been a feud between ABS-CBN Sports and Solar Entertainment, while some say its due to a bad deal between two parties. This explains the new channels SkyCable will be airing. Time will tell if subscribers will again switch to the competitor and how can Sky manage such loss of subscribers and how can Sky handle the loss of such great channels on their line-up.
Phil. Star Article, Entertainment Section page C-7 Sept. 6: In its bid to bring subscribers the best program choices, SkyCable recently announced programming enhancements that will introduce all-new and exciting channels produced both by well-established international cable brands and locally syndicated ones. Skycable will be one of the first cable providers in the world to carry AXN Beyond by Jan. 1, 2008. A spin-off channel of the widely popular action adventure station, AXN, which is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company. AXN Beyond will spotlight more sci-fi, supernatural, paranormal and out-of-the-ordinary shows like The Dresden Files. Also availbale first on AXN Beyond is a sci-fi series called Painkiller Jane.
Another new internation channel to be introduced by SkyCable by next year is FOX-Crime, the most popular 24-hour factual and fictional entertainment TV channel dedicated to crime, investigation and mystery. Suspense buffs can expect to see a mix of facual and fictional shows with spine-chilling thrillers and fast-paced action-packed dramas like Dexter, Texas SWAT, Trace Evidence, Brotherhood, CSI Miami, CSI Las Vegas, Law and Order and Kojak.
Apart from these international channels, SkyCable will also be airing starting next year locally syndicated channles. Coming soon will be a chic channel for women called VELVET which whill carry some of the best programs of American TV. Among these are The View. Other exciting shows include Crossing Jordan, E! News Weekend, Desperate Housewives and Extreme Makeover Home Edition.
Letter of Solar Entertainment to its subscribers:Moving toward the last quarter of 2007 and into the New Year, We are happy to announce the following:
1. Solar has entered into agreement with the International Olympics Committee (IOC) covering all Exclusive Broadcast Rights including Free TV, Basic Cable, satellite, mobile television, pay television, closed-circuit television and internet television for the following:
* 2008 Beijing Olympic Games
* 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games
* 2012 London Olympic Games
Next year, 8/08/08, Solar will be bringing to the Philippines an unprecedented number of hours of various Olympic sports through Pay Per View, Closed Circuit, RPN, Solar Sports, Basketball TV, ETC and 2nd Avenue from Beijing. In addition, Solar will be sending its production crew to Beijing to cover the participation of the Philippines at the Games.
2. To continue our ability to deliver to our valued clients the most current entertainment programming, Solar has secured multi-year volume deals with major studios and production companies including the following:
* NBC-Universal Television
* Warner Brothers International Television
* Fox Television
* CBS-Paramount
The deals give Solar first choice of selection over all new products and properties from the studios and provide our cable affiliates the assurance that all hit series such as 24, Heroes plus the new series from the 2007 production slate will exclusively have its premieres and first telecast window on Solar Channels over our competition. Renewed hit series for the season are the following:
* Heroes
* Bones
*24
*Shark
* Prison Break
* My Name is Earl
* America's Next Top Model
* Project Runway
* Top Chef
* Saturday Night Live
* One Tree Hill
* Without A Trace
* Cold Case
* The Closer
* Men in Trees
* Hell's Kitchen
* Extreme Makeover
* Home Edition
* Beauty And The Geek
* Law and Order SVU
* Nip Tuck
* The Office
* The Simpson's
* Family Guy
* Survivors: China
* America's Got Talent.
Recently acquired for telecast this next few months are the following:
* The Sopranos
* Entourage
* My Boys
* The Tudors
And from the new television season in the U.S., the new series we have acquired are the ff:
* Bionic Woman
* The Sarah Connors Chronicles
* Pushing Daisies
* Chuck
* Big Bang Theory
* Alien In America
* Journeyman
* New Amsterdam
* Big Shots
* Moonlight
* Burn Notice
[SkyCable], [Solar Entertainment]
