SolarFlix
SolarFlix is a Philippine free-to-air television network owned by the Southern Broadcasting Network, a subsidiary of Solar Entertainment Corporation and former jointly operated with Nine Media Corporation from 2010 to 2014. Its digital free-to-air broadcast is carried by SBN's flagship station, DWCP-DTV in Metro Manila. Formerly carried over on RPN's flagship DZKB-TV along with 7 RPN stations nationwide. The channel's analog broadcast is fed on its lone provincial TV station, DXSS-TV in Davao City. The channel is also carried by cable and satellite providers, including Sky Cable, Destiny Cable, Cablelink, Binangonan Cable TV Corporation, Cignal, SatLite, Sky Direct, and G Sat along with various provincial cable operators and through online streaming.
SolarFlix operates daily from 8 a.m. to 12 midnight on Solar's digital free TV, while it operates 24 hours daily on most pay TV and streaming service providers. However, starting Holy Week 2021, it continues to sign off from Maundy Thursday at midnight to Easter Sunday at 8:00 a.m. along with its sister channels Solar Sports, Shop TV and Solar Learning. It formerly operated daily from 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight on free-to-air analog TV broadcast until September 2019, when SBN permanently closed its analog signal.
SolarFlix broadcasts from Solar's master control facility and studios located at the Third Floor Worldwide Corporate Center, Shaw Boulevard corner EDSA, Mandaluyong, Solar's office is located at the Solar Century Tower, 100 Tordesillas St., Corner H.V. Dela Costa St. Salcedo Village, Makati, while SBN holds free-to-air broadcasts from its transmitter and tower site located at Nuestra Señora de la Paz Subdivision, Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Antipolo, Rizal.
History
As ETC (2004–2022)
On March 1, 2004, Solar Entertainment launched ETC as "Entertainment Central," but test broadcasts had started earlier on November 24, 2003.SBN first era (2008–2011)
On January 1, 2008, ETC ceased airing as a separate channel on Sky Cable due to carriage dispute. As part of Solar's blocktime agreements with various terrestrial channels, ETC began airing on SBN 21, a terrestrial UHF TV station in the Philippines.RPN era (2011–2013)
On March 2, 2011, after Solar TV Network acquired 34% share of Radio Philippines Network from the Philippine government as part of RPN/IBC privatization in 2011, ETC replaced Solar TV on RPN channel space. Meanwhile, Solar and SBN launched Talk TV on the same day as a part of formation of its news department. On October 30, 2012, Talk TV rebranded as Solar News Channel.SBN second era (2013–present)
But ETC returned to SBN on November 30, 2013, as Solar News Channel moved to RPN on the following day, to enhance its nationwide coverage.After its sister channel, 2nd Avenue, ceased broadcasting on June 5, 2018—after 12 years on air—many of its programs moved to ETC.
On November 21, 2018, ETC unveiled its new station ID and on-air graphics. At the same time, the network launched new slogans, In Full Bloom and #IamETC.
On May 25, 2020, ETC began broadcasting in anamorphic 16:9 aspect ratio on free-to-air digital television. This change allowed for widescreen presentation, optimizing the viewing experience for viewers with compatible widescreen televisions.