Branding S+A Broadcast area Nationwide Founded 2014 | Country Philippines | |
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Type Broadcast television network Slogan Sumasaludo sa Pusong Palaban ng Lahing Pilipino (Saluting in the gladiatorial hearts of the Filipino heritage) Key people March Ventosa (Head, ABS-CBN Narrowcast)Dino Laurena (Head, ABS-CBN Sports)Vince Rodriguez (Head, S+A and Production)Jojo Estacio (Head, S+A HD) Motto Sumasaludo sa Pusong Palaban ng Lahing Pilipino (Saluting in the gladiatorial hearts of the Filipino heritage) TV shows The Score, Family Rosary Crusade, News plus, Asenso Pinoy, Touchline Profiles | ||
ABS-CBN Sports and Action (stylized as ABS-CBN Sports+Action or simply S+A or S cross A), 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. 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. 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, UFC (until 2015, which the broadcast rights acquired by TV5's sports division Sports5), Top Rank boxing, ONE Championship, BVR, V-League, Palarong Pambansa, URCC, FIFA, AFC, and Azkals football matches, and ABL. The program line up of Sports + Action also includes action movies targeted to male audiences as well as other sports-related programs, news coverage (simulcast from ABS-CBN) and blocktimers.
Contents
Background
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.
Launching
The channel was officially launched in Glorietta 3, Ayala Center, Makati on January 16, 2014. 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. 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.
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.
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.
High-definition channel
On January 1, 2016, ABS-CBN Sports+Action, launched their high-definition cable channel (formerly known as Balls HD) on SkyCable 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 separated feed from its SD counterpart which shows exclusive live events and other programs.
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.
Programming
According to Sports Interactive Network, 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. Several programming of the now-defunct Balls channel (which ended transmission on December 31, 2015) were absorbed by S+A.