Balls (TV channel)
Encyclopedia
Balls is a Filipino
sports television network owned by Creative Programs, Inc., a subsidiary of ABS-CBN
. It is managed by the sports division of ABS-CBN Corporation, ABS-CBN Sports
. The channel operates non-stop 24/7.
, a Filipino media organization, owns SkyCable
, a cable television service which serves much of the country. In 2007, the company had a dispute with Solar Entertainment
over broadcast contracts with Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao
which lead to the removal of their channels from the service, such as Basketball TV
(which is currently the official broadcaster of the Philippine Basketball League
, which was formally shown on the ABS-CBN owned Studio 23
network, along with other major basketball leagues).
The Solar Entertainment channels were removed from SkyCable on January 1, 2008. In place of the displaced channels, SkyCable launched several new channels in their place. Along with Velvet
and Maxxx
, Balls was launched on SkyCable channel 34 on January 1, 2008. Although Balls was intended to replace it, Basketball TV was restored onto the SkyCable lineup in time for the 2008–09 NBA season
in October 2008.
From its inception, Balls' programming featured all foreign sports coverage. However, beginning in June 2009, they also began broadcasting local sports programming through ABS-CBN Sports
, beginning with NCAA Season 85
and UAAP Season 72
, which were produced through subsidiary channel Balls HD (the first locally produced programs in high definition) and were replayed later in the night on Balls.
, tennis
, and volleyball
. The network also airs watersports, badminton
, and live free Pay-Per-View
boxing
and Pay-Per-View
UFC fights.
service in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
sports television network owned by Creative Programs, Inc., a subsidiary of ABS-CBN
ABS-CBN
ABS–CBN Corporation is a Philippine-based media conglomerate. It is the Philippines' largest media and entertainment conglomerate. The corporation was the merger of Alto Broadcasting System which at that time owned by James Lindenberg and Antonio Quirino, and the Chronicle Broadcasting Network ...
. It is managed by the sports division of ABS-CBN Corporation, ABS-CBN Sports
ABS-CBN Sports
ABS-CBN Sports is the sports division of the Philippine media conglomerate ABS-CBN Corporation, which airs some of the notable sports events in the Philippines....
. The channel operates non-stop 24/7.
History
ABS-CBNABS-CBN
ABS–CBN Corporation is a Philippine-based media conglomerate. It is the Philippines' largest media and entertainment conglomerate. The corporation was the merger of Alto Broadcasting System which at that time owned by James Lindenberg and Antonio Quirino, and the Chronicle Broadcasting Network ...
, a Filipino media organization, owns SkyCable
SkyCable
SkyCable is a direct-to-home cable TV subscription service and the largest cable company in the Philippines. It is established by the Lopez and Central CATV group of companies, and one of ABS-CBN Corporation subsidiaries. In January 1990, SkyCable was founded and started its CATV operation on...
, a cable television service which serves much of the country. In 2007, the company had a dispute with Solar Entertainment
Solar Entertainment Corporation
Solar Entertainment Corporation is a Makati, Philippines-based media company with 6 cable channels 4 Free-TV Channels and a film distribution company...
over broadcast contracts with Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao
Manny Pacquiao
Emmanuel "Manny" Dapidran Pacquiao, PLH is a Filipino professional boxer and politician. He is the first eight-division world champion; having won six world titles, as well as the first to win the lineal championship in four different weight classes. He was named "Fighter of the Decade" for the...
which lead to the removal of their channels from the service, such as Basketball TV
Basketball TV
Basketball TV or BTV is a 24-hour all-basketball cable channel in the Philippines owned by the Solar Entertainment Corporation. It was launched on October 1, 2006, rebranding the Sports Plus channel....
(which is currently the official broadcaster of the Philippine Basketball League
Philippine Basketball League
The Philippine Basketball League is a commercial semi-professional basketball league in the Philippines. The league is composed of several commercial teams with several collegiate and provincial stars.-History:...
, which was formally shown on the ABS-CBN owned Studio 23
Studio 23
Studio 23 is a Filipino television network owned by the ABS-CBN Corporation. The network is named for its flagship station in Metro Manila, DWAC-TV, which is carried on UHF channel 23...
network, along with other major basketball leagues).
The Solar Entertainment channels were removed from SkyCable on January 1, 2008. In place of the displaced channels, SkyCable launched several new channels in their place. Along with Velvet
Velvet (TV channel)
Velvet is a women-targeted general entertainment channel, owned by Creative Programs, Inc., an subsidiary of ABS-CBN Corporation. It is currently on SkyCable channel 53.-Channel Information:...
and Maxxx
Maxxx
Maxxx was a general entertainment channel for men owned by Creative Programs, Inc., an ABS-CBN subsidiary. -Channel Information:Maxxx had a test broadcast together with Velvet and Balls since September 2007. Maxxx had an official launch on January 1, 2008. Maxxx has also aired selected shows over...
, Balls was launched on SkyCable channel 34 on January 1, 2008. Although Balls was intended to replace it, Basketball TV was restored onto the SkyCable lineup in time for the 2008–09 NBA season
2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...
in October 2008.
From its inception, Balls' programming featured all foreign sports coverage. However, beginning in June 2009, they also began broadcasting local sports programming through ABS-CBN Sports
ABS-CBN Sports
ABS-CBN Sports is the sports division of the Philippine media conglomerate ABS-CBN Corporation, which airs some of the notable sports events in the Philippines....
, beginning with NCAA Season 85
NCAA Season 85
-Awardees:*Most Valuable Player: John Wilson *Rookie of the Year: Sudan Daniel -Bracket:-Volleyball:The volleyball tournaments commence on August 16, 2009 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium...
and UAAP Season 72
UAAP Season 72
-Awardees:* Most Valuable Player: Dylan Ababou, University of Santo Tomas* Rookie of the Year: Jeric Teng, University of Santo Tomas-Bracket:-Awardees:* Most Valuable Player: Analyn Almasan, Adamson University-Bracket:-Awardees:...
, which were produced through subsidiary channel Balls HD (the first locally produced programs in high definition) and were replayed later in the night on Balls.
Programming
As suggested by its name, Balls primarily airs programs and sporting events related to ball sports such as basketballBasketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, and volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
. The network also airs watersports, badminton
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
, and live free Pay-Per-View
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
and Pay-Per-View
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
UFC fights.
2010 Programming Highlights
- Euro-PGA Tour (golf)
- French Open 2010 (tennis)
- US Open 2010 (tennis)
- 2010 PGA Championship (golf)
- 2010 Ryder Cup (golf)
- 2010 FIFA World Cup (football)
- Balls Beach Soccer in April
- Father’s Day Golf Festival in June
- UFC 2010 Manila Media Tour
2011 Programing Highlights
- Euro-PGA Tour (golf)
- French Open 2011 (tennis)
- US Open 2011 (tennis)
- UEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
- 2011 Southeast Asian Games2011 Southeast Asian GamesThe 26th Southeast Asian Games was held in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia on 11 until 22 November 2011. Indonesia's fourth time to host the SEA Games, it last hosted the Games in 1997...
Other Programs
- Game Day
- Sport Science
- The Ultimate FighterThe Ultimate FighterThe Ultimate Fighter is an American reality television series and mixed martial arts competition produced by Spike TV and the Ultimate Fighting Championship , and soon to be shown on FX. The show features unknown, professional MMA fighters living together in Las Vegas, Nevada, and follows them as...
- Top Rank BoxingTop Rank BoxingTop Rank, Inc. is a Las Vegas based boxing promotion company founded by Jabir Herbert Muhammad and Bob Arum, which was incorporated in 1973. Since its founding, the company has promoted several world class fighters, such as Muhammad Ali, JI Penalver, Oscar De La Hoya, Roberto Durán, Joe Frazier,...
- Transworld SportTransworld SportTransworld Sport is a Sports-related television programme produced by Trans World International and shown worldwide on a variety of television channels....
- WWE SuperstarsWWE SuperstarsWWE Superstars is a professional wrestling television program produced by World Wrestling Entertainment that originally aired on WGN America in the United States. It debuted on April 16, 2009 and ended its domestic broadcasting on April 7, 2011...
Balls HD
On July 13, 2009, SkyCable officially launched Balls HD. The first Cable HDHigh-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
service in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
External links
- Balls on Multiply
- Balls at Telebisyon.net