Southern Broadcasting Network
A Philippine television broadcasting company whose stations are primarily used by Solar Entertainment Corporation for free-to-air entertainment programming.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Southern Broadcasting Network, Inc. (SBN) is a Philippine media and television-broadcasting company headquartered in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila. It operates television facilities and stations in the Philippines, including the Metro Manila UHF station associated with channel 21. Although SBN has its own corporate identity and legislative franchise, its broadcast operations have been closely connected with Solar Entertainment Corporation, a Filipino-owned television company managed by the Tieng family. SBN's broadcasting history began in 1992, when its predecessor station DWCP-TV channel 21 was launched in Metro Manila. The station was initially identified as World TV 21 and was operated by Kampana Television Corporation, carrying programming associated with ABC, ESPN and CNN. Its launch made it an early local UHF television service in Metro Manila. The network later operated under the SBN identity and became a platform for a mixture of entertainment, informational, educational and religious programming. The network gained visibility in the early 2000s through programs including Ang Dating Daan, which moved to SBN in 2000, and SBN Music Videos, later developed into the videoke-oriented SBN 21 Live. SBN also carried religious programs associated with Iglesia ni Cristo and other Christian organizations. The presence of competing religious programs contributed to a high-profile dispute between Ang Dating Daan and Iglesia ni Cristo's Ang Tamang Daan. Ang Dating Daan subsequently transferred to UNTV in 2004, while Ang Tamang Daan moved to Net 25. A major strategic change occurred on January 1, 2008, when Solar Entertainment began leasing airtime on SBN. The arrangement allowed Solar to use SBN's free-to-air capacity for programming from its ETC entertainment channel and formed part of a broader distribution strategy involving several Philippine broadcast companies. In 2010, Gem Communications Holdings Corporation divested its 97 percent interest in SBN to Solar Entertainment for a reported 368.8 million Philippine pesos. Following the transaction, SBN became a wholly owned Solar subsidiary. SBN later participated in Solar's efforts to expand its television portfolio. In 2011, SBN and Solar established Talk TV, a news-and-talk service that began full operations on April 1 of that year. Talk TV later became the initial home of Solar News and carried coverage of the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona. The service was relaunched as Solar News Channel in October 2012. Because the channel sought broader coverage, Solar News Channel moved to Radio Philippines Network in December 2013, while ETC returned to SBN's broadcast platform. In its current role, SBN is principally an infrastructure, franchise and broadcast-distribution company within the Solar group rather than an independently programmed mass-market network. Its facilities provide terrestrial broadcast capacity for Solar programming, including the movie and entertainment service SolarFlix. SBN's franchise was renewed for another 25 years in 2019, authorizing the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of radio and television broadcasting stations, including digital television facilities and relay stations, for commercial purposes throughout the Philippines.
History
Southern Broadcasting Network traces its broadcasting operations to the launch of DWCP-TV channel 21 in Metro Manila on May 30, 1992. The station was associated with World TV 21 and was operated by Kampana Television Corporation, carrying programming supplied or associated with ABC, ESPN and CNN. It became one of the early local UHF television services in Metro Manila. The corporate entity behind the later SBN operation was Gem Communications Holdings Corporation, which held a 97 percent interest and was associated with businessman Lucio Co. Leonardo B. Dayao and Teofilo A. Henson served as chairman and president during this period. SBN received a 25-year legislative franchise on September 7, 1995, under Republic Act No. 8147. The franchise became law after the bill was not acted upon by the president within the constitutionally specified period. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, SBN developed a varied schedule that included entertainment, music-video, informational, educational and religious programming. Ang Dating Daan moved to SBN in 2000, while the network also carried SBN Music Videos, later reworked as SBN 21 Live. Religious programming became an important part of the station's schedule, including programs connected with Iglesia ni Cristo and other Christian organizations. The religious programming environment produced a public dispute between Ang Dating Daan and Iglesia ni Cristo's Ang Tamang Daan. The latter was created as a response to Ang Dating Daan and used recorded material and discussion of its presenters. A libel case brought by Iglesia ni Cristo members concerned statements broadcast during Ang Dating Daan programs on SBN. Ang Dating Daan eventually left SBN for UNTV in 2004, while Ang Tamang Daan moved to Net 25. Solar Entertainment entered SBN's operating history through a blocktime agreement that began on January 1, 2008. Solar leased airtime to broadcast ETC, expanding its use of free-to-air capacity. The arrangement formed part of a wider commercial and distribution dispute involving Solar, SkyCable and other Philippine broadcasters. In mid-2010, GemCom sold its 97 percent interest in SBN to Solar Entertainment in a transaction reported at 368.8 million Philippine pesos. SBN consequently became a wholly owned Solar subsidiary. Solar subsequently used SBN in the development of its television portfolio. In 2011, Solar and SBN established Talk TV, which began full operations on April 1. Talk TV became the first home of Solar News, and its coverage included the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona. In October 2012, the service was relaunched as Solar News Channel. The channel moved to RPN on December 1, 2013, to improve its reach, while ETC returned to SBN. Solar News Channel and RPN were later sold to the ALC Group of Companies in 2014. SBN's franchise position was strengthened when Republic Act No. 11354 was signed on July 26, 2019. The law granted a further 25-year franchise for commercial radio and television broadcasting, digital television systems and related relay facilities throughout the Philippines. In the Solar group’s present operating model, SBN functions mainly as a broadcast vehicle and licensed transmission platform. It carries or supports Solar entertainment services, including SolarFlix, rather than operating solely as an independently branded general-interest network.
- 2019
Legislative franchise renewed
[1]Republic Act No. 11354 renewed SBN's broadcasting franchise for another 25 years.
- 2013
Solar News Channel moves to RPN
[1]Solar News Channel moved from SBN to RPN, while ETC returned to SBN.
- 2011
Talk TV begins full operations
[1]SBN and Solar launched Talk TV as a news-and-talk service on April 1.
- 2010
SBN becomes a Solar subsidiary
[1]Solar acquired GemCom's 97 percent interest in SBN.
- 2008
Solar begins leasing SBN airtime
[1]Solar Entertainment began using SBN for ETC programming under a blocktime agreement.
- 2004
Ang Dating Daan leaves SBN
[1]Ang Dating Daan transferred to UNTV, while Ang Tamang Daan moved to Net 25.
- 2000
Ang Dating Daan moves to SBN
[1]The religious program began airing on SBN after transferring from PTV.
- 1995
Initial legislative franchise
[1]SBN received a 25-year legislative franchise under Republic Act No. 8147.
- 1992
Launch of Metro Manila UHF channel 21
[1]DWCP-TV channel 21 began broadcasting on May 30 and was identified as World TV 21, operated by Kampana Television Corporation.
Products and positioning
A Philippine broadcast-platform company within the Solar Entertainment group, focused on terrestrial television carriage, airtime utilization and distribution of entertainment programming.
Television broadcasting · 1992
SBN channel 21
SBN's Metro Manila UHF television service originated with DWCP-TV channel 21 and the World TV 21 identity. The station has served as a terrestrial platform for entertainment, religious, informational and educational programming and later became closely associated with Solar Entertainment's broadcast distribution strategy.
Movie and entertainment television
SolarFlix
SolarFlix is a movie and entertainment service for which SBN operates as a primary broadcast platform. The relationship reflects SBN's role within Solar Entertainment as a licensed terrestrial distribution and transmission outlet.
News and talk television · 2011
Talk TV
Talk TV was developed by SBN and Solar as a news-and-talk channel. It began full operations in April 2011 and later became the initial home of Solar News before the service was relaunched as Solar News Channel.
Music television · 2000
SBN Music Videos / SBN 21 Live
SBN Music Videos was a notable music-oriented program in the network's early-2000s schedule. It later evolved into SBN 21 Live, a videoke-oriented program, illustrating the channel's use of low-cost locally oriented entertainment formats.
Controversies
2003
Ang Dating Daan–Iglesia ni Cristo libel dispute
Statements made during Ang Dating Daan broadcasts carried by SBN became the subject of a libel complaint by Iglesia ni Cristo members. The dispute was connected with the rival religious programs Ang Dating Daan and Ang Tamang Daan. A Quezon City Regional Trial Court later ordered televangelist Eliseo Soriano to pay moral damages and fines in the case.
Brand decisions
2019
Renewal of legislative franchiseOtherBackground
SBN required continued statutory authority to operate commercial radio, television and digital broadcasting facilities in the Philippines.
Action taken
Republic Act No. 11354 renewed SBN's franchise for 25 years and expressly covered digital television and relay facilities.
Aftermath
The renewal preserved SBN's legal basis for continued broadcast operations throughout the Philippines.
2013
Reallocation of Solar services between SBN and RPNStrategyBackground
Solar News Channel required broader terrestrial coverage than SBN could provide on its own.
Action taken
Solar News Channel moved to RPN, while ETC returned to SBN.
Aftermath
SBN resumed its role as the principal terrestrial platform for ETC and related Solar entertainment programming.
2011
Creation of Talk TVProduct launchBackground
Solar sought to expand beyond entertainment programming into news and talk television.
Action taken
SBN and Solar established Talk TV, which entered full operation on April 1, 2011.
Aftermath
Talk TV became the initial platform for Solar News and was later relaunched as Solar News Channel.
2010
Solar acquires GemCom's interest in SBNM&ABackground
Gem Communications Holdings Corporation held a 97 percent interest in SBN, while Solar was already using the network's airtime.
Action taken
Solar acquired GemCom's reported 97 percent equity stake, making SBN a wholly owned subsidiary.
Aftermath
SBN became part of Solar's integrated broadcast portfolio and continued to provide terrestrial capacity for Solar services.
Reported acquisition price. PHP 368.8 million (2010)
2008
Solar begins blocktime use of SBNStrategyBackground
Solar Entertainment needed additional free-to-air distribution capacity for its entertainment programming after channel-distribution tensions involving SkyCable and other broadcasters.
Action taken
Solar began leasing SBN airtime and used the station to broadcast ETC.
Aftermath
The agreement deepened the operational relationship between SBN and Solar and preceded Solar's later acquisition of control of SBN.
Recent events
- 2019
Philippine Congress renews SBN legislative franchise[1]
Regulation
Republic Act No. 11354 renewed SBN's legislative franchise for 25 years and covered television, radio, digital television and relay facilities.
- 2013
Solar News Channel moves from SBN to Radio Philippines Network[1]
Product generation
Solar News Channel moved to RPN to obtain broader coverage, and ETC returned to SBN's broadcast platform.
- 2011
SBN and Solar launch Talk TV[1]
Product launch
SBN and Solar created Talk TV, a news-and-talk service that began full operations on April 1, 2011.
- 2010
Solar Entertainment acquires GemCom's controlling interest in SBN[1]
M&A
Gem Communications Holdings Corporation divested its reported 97 percent equity interest in SBN to Solar Entertainment, making SBN a wholly owned Solar subsidiary.
- 2008
Southern Broadcasting Network begins Solar airtime agreement[1]
M&A
Solar Entertainment began leasing airtime on SBN and used the station to distribute programming from its ETC entertainment channel.
Sources2 sources
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