Definitions
SkyCable

SkyCable

SkyCable is a direct-to-home cable TV and subscription service, established by the Lopez Group of Companies and Central CATV Group Of Companies. It is one of several subsidiaries of ABS-CBN.

SkyCable should not be confused as a service of British Sky Broadcasting in the UK -- neither it nor its parent, News Corporation, own any interest in SkyCable even as Star TV channels are carried by the former. SkyCable offers a range of analog and digital Cable Television services, and also offers high-speed internet services as well.

Company timeline

1990s

  • 1992 – SkyCable is founded.
  • 1994 – SkyCable launches its first local movie channel, Sky1(later Pinoy Blockbuster Channel then Cinema One).
  • May 1, 1996 – SkyCable launches its first local news channel, Sarimanok News Network (now ABS-CBN News Channel).
  • 1 January 1999 – The "i" channel ceases to air on SkyCable
  • July 11, 1999 – SkyCable launches Lifestyle Network.

2000s

  • May 1, 2000 – SkyCable launches AXN.
  • May 20, 2001 – Pinoy Blockbuster Channel replaces Cinema One as the digital Filipino movie channel.
  • October 19, 2001 – Home Cable loses STAR TV channels, SkyCable acquires Home Cable.
  • July 1, 2002 – SkyCable launches Disney Channel.
  • November 17, 2002 – Home Cable removes Disney Channel and Hallmark Channel.
  • May 7, 2004 – SkyCable and Home Cable launches ETC and Sports Plus (now a defunct channel).
  • July 1, 2004 – SkyCable and Home Cable changes their hotline number to +6326310000.
  • July 1, 2005 – SkyCable changes its channel guide; acquires Home Cable and Sun Cable.''
  • October 1, 2005 – SkyCable launches Hero on test broadcast from November 30 to December 31, on chanel 44. Programming started in January 2006.
  • October 15 and December 15 – SkyCable launches Crime/Suspense and ETC 2nd Avenue (now 2nd Avenue).
  • January 2006SkyCABLE became SkyCable Gold, and Home Cable and SunCable became SkyCable Silver.
  • March 16, 2006 – SkyCABLE launches SkyCABLE Platinum.
  • April 11, 2006 – SkyCable launches commercials for SkyCable Platinum, seen on MySky & SkySked and as a filter on some channels.
  • April 12, 2006 to July 20, 2006 – SkyCable shows previews of SkyCable Platinum Channels on SkySked Channel 33. Channels from the HBOPak each have 5 to 10 minute previews, while channels from the Metro Pack each have 15 to 30 minute previews.
  • July 12, 2006 – QTV moved to channel 24, and ZPDee Channel was moved to channel 11.
  • September 01, 2006 – KBS World replaced Arirang TV (Channel 75).
  • October 19, 2006 – SkyCable main offices were moved to 33rd Floor, Tektite East Tower, Exchange Road, Ortigas Centre, Pasig City.
  • November 13, 2006 – UniversiTV premiers on channel 5.
  • Dec. 2006 – SkyCable launches its children's club, called SkyCable Fun Club
  • April 12, 2007 – Skycable launches Teleradyo Channel 22, leaving MTV on Channel 57 and Channel News Asia was moved to channel 79 (channel 67 on Skycable Digital). Also, SkyCable launches an infomercial about their Digibox product, seen on MySky Channel 33.
  • June 26, 2007 – SkySked on Channel 11 was reformatted.
  • August 13, 2007 – TeleRadyo was moved to channel 26, Zpdee was moved to channel 61, Iglesia Ni Cristo TV was moved to channel 22, NHK World Premium was moved to channel 78 and Makisig Network (formerly Karera Channel) was moved to channel 76.
  • September 1, 2007 – Test Broadcast of another sports channel - Balls. It currently broadcasts the 2007 US Open which is exclusive to SkyCable.
  • September 15, 2007 – Test Broadcast of MySky Channel 33 is reformatted.
  • November 7, 2007 – CUBEiTV was transferred to channel 67 while ABS-CBN Pay-Per-View was also transferred from channel 25. SkyCable's new CPI channels and the replacement for Solar's channels started its preview on Channel 25 for Velvet, Channel 33 for Balls and Channel 61 for Maxxx.
  • January 1, 2008 – All Solar Entertainment Channels were removed, namely, BTV-Basketball TV, ETC, 2nd Avenue, Crime/Suspense, JackTV and Solar Sports. AXN Beyond, FOX Crime and KidsCo were made available on SkyCable, but KidsCo is only available to Gold subscribers. Channel 25 became SkyCable Platinum preview channel. Disney Channel becomes available to Silver subscribers.
  • January 28, 2008Shop TV 2005, a Shopping channel on Channel 13 was new with Shop TV 2008.
  • January 30, 2008 – SkyCable's corporate name changed from Central CATV Inc. to SkyCable Corporation.
  • February 05, 2008Power TV, a Chinese premium channel on channel 64 was replaced with Phoenix Chinese Channel.
  • February 06, 2008Asian Food Channel now available on Channel 58 transferring zh:大愛衛星電視 to Channel 61.
  • March 2008Lifestyle Network is now a 24/7 channel.
  • March 1, 2008Asia Plus, a Chinese premium channel on Channel 65 was replaced with Phoenix InfoNews Channel.
  • April 1, 2008 – MySky Channel 33 is reformatted again.
  • June 1, 2008 – SkyCable Baguio launches C-Load Prepaid Cable TV.
  • August 9, 2008ABC 5, a VHF channel on Channel 10 was replaced with TV5.
  • September 19, 2008 – SkyCable had its first High-Definition broadcast starting with the Ryder Cup from Sept 19 to 22
  • September 22, 2008 – Discovery Real Time is now Discovery Turbo
  • October 4, 2008C/S 9 replaced C/S on RPN 9 (Channel 14).

Channel Listing

Below is a numerical representation of the current SkyCable channel lineup.

This list is lifted from the SkySked Channel and SkyCable's official website

Channels not yet available on SkyCable can be found on the Future Channels section.

The channel listing is not applicable to subscribers in the CAMANAVA, Rizal and other SkyCable Provincial areas.

Legend
SkyCable info channels Local channels News channels Foreign-language channels
Sports channels Kid-oriented/Animation channels Educational/Documentary channels Variety channels
Movie channels Pay-per-view channels Music channels Lifestyle/Travel channels

  • † - Channels that are exclusive to SkyCable.

Ch. # Network Minimum Package Notes
5 Zoe TV 33 (UHF 33) Select Prepaid Subscribers may experience interference with local reception of ABC 5 on this channel.
6 NBN (VHF 4) Select Prepaid
8 ABS-CBN (VHF 2) Select Prepaid
10 TV5 on ABC (VHF 5) Select Prepaid
11 SkySked Select Prepaid Subscribers may experience interference with local reception of Q 11 on this channel
12 GMA (VHF 7) Select Prepaid
13 Shop TV Select Prepaid Subscribers may experience interference with local reception of IBC 13 on this channel
14 RPN (VHF 9) / C/S-9 Select Prepaid
15 IBC (VHF 13) Select Prepaid
16 SBN (UHF 21) / ETC Select Prepaid
17 Studio 23 (UHF 23) Select Prepaid
18 Net 25 (UHF 25) Select Prepaid
19 RJTV (UHF 29) /
2nd Avenue
Select Prepaid
20 GEM TV (UHF 49) Select Prepaid
21 UNTV (UHF 37) Select Prepaid
22 Iglesia ni Cristo TV Select Prepaid
23 MYX Select Prepaid
24 Q (VHF 11) Select Prepaid
25 SkyCable Platinum Preview Channel Silver
26 DZMM TeleRadyo Select Prepaid Live simulcast of DZMM Radyo Patrol 630 kHz with live video stream of the station.
27 ABS-CBN News Channel Select Prepaid
28 CNN International Silver
29 BBC World Silver
30 Bloomberg Television Silver
31 ESPN Silver
32 STAR Sports Silver
33 mySKY Channel Select Prepaid
34 Balls Select Prepaid
35 AXN Beyond Silver
36 Cinemax Asia Gold
37 Hallmark Channel Gold
38 KidsCo Gold
39 Discovery Channel Gold
40 Animal Planet Gold
41 National Geographic Channel Silver
42 Knowledge Channel Select Prepaid
43 Cartoon Network Silver
44 Hero TV Select Prepaid
45 Nickelodeon Silver
46 Animax Silver
47 Disney Channel Asia Silver
48 STAR World Silver
49 AXN Asia Select Prepaid
50 Fox Crime Silver
51 Maxxx Select Prepaid
52 Lifestyle Network Select Prepaid
53 Velvet Silver
54 HBO Asia Silver
55 STAR Movies Silver
56 Cinema One Select Prepaid All The Movies From Star Cinema Regal Entertainment & Viva Films Plus Entertainment.
57 MTV Philippines Select Prepaid
58 Asian Food Channel Select Prepaid
59 TCT Network Select Prepaid
60 EWTN Select Prepaid
61 zh:大愛衛星電視 Select Prepaid
62 Sky CEC Select Prepaid
63 GXTV Select Prepaid
64 Phoenix Chinese Channel Chinese Premium
65 Phoenix InfoNews Channel Chinese Premium
66 STAR Chinese Movies Chinese Premium audio with and subtitles during movies
67 CUBE iTV /
RHTV - DZRH Television
Silver
68 STAR News Indian Premium audio with news ticker during newscasts
69 STAR One Indian Premium
70 STAR Gold Indian Premium
71 Voice of America Select Prepaid Multilingual, but mostly in audio
72 DW-TV Select Prepaid Alternating and audio every two hours
73 TV Español Select Prepaid
74 TV5MONDE Asie Select Prepaid
75 KBS World Select Prepaid , at times with subtitles
76 Makisig Network Select Prepaid
77 Saudi One Select Prepaid
78 NHK World Premium Select Prepaid audio with news ticker during major newscasts
79 Channel NewsAsia Silver Channel 67 on SkyCable Digital
82 Makisig Network Silver
95 ACQ-KBN (UHF 39) Silver
96 3ABN (UHF 45) Silver
99 Living Asia Channel Silver
100 HBO HiTS Platinum
101 HBO Signature Platinum
102 HBO Family Platinum
105 Turner Classic Movies Platinum
106 MGM Channel Platinum
110 CNN Headline News Platinum
111 CNBC Asia Platinum
112 Fox News Channel Platinum
113 SkyCable Season Pass Pay-Per-View
120 Discovery Travel & Living Platinum
121 Discovery Home & Health Platinum
122 Discovery Turbo Platinum
123 Discovery Science Platinum
124 Nat Geo Adventure Platinum Formerly known as Adventure One.
125 Boomerang Platinum
126 Playhouse Disney Channel Asia Platinum
130 Australia Network Platinum Formerly known as ABC Asia Pacific.
131 Wine TV Platinum
132 Fashion TV Platinum
135 [[Channel V>Channel [V] International]] Platinum
136 SkyCable Season Pass Pay-Per-View
140 Family Land Platinum
141 CTS Platinum
145 CCTV 9 Platinum programming in
146 STAR Plus Indian Platinum
147 Arirang TV Platinum programming in
148 MBC Platinum
149 SkyCable Season Pass Pay-Per-View

Future channels

These channels are not yet available on any of SkyCable's subscription plan or pack. SkyCable has no public announcement yet about any or all of these channels, but may have a formal contract or are negotiating with SkyCable for one. In any case, the Channel Listing section is more reliable data-wise, for they have citation unlike this section.

Former Channels

SkyCable HD

The Philippines' first high-definition television broadcast was initiated by SkyCable on September 19, 2008 with the 2008 Ryder Cup in high-definition quality. It is not yet sure what resolution is being used by SkyCable HD, but it is presumed to be 1080i. SkyCable also announced that they would start to launch full HD channels before the year ends, with HBO HD, Discovery HD Asia, and National Geographic Channel HD included in the lineup.

Controversies

Alleged bias with GMA

In mid-2003, GMA Network, the chief rival of SkyCable's sister company ABS-CBN, accused SkyCable of purposely tampering with the signal of GMA received by SkyCable's subscribers. At that time, SkyCable changed its channel assignments, moving GMA to channel 14. Subscribers still received poor reception of GMA, but officials at SkyCable denied these claims. The National Telecommunications Commission ordered SkyCable to move GMA to an appropriate channel. SkyCable complied with the order and moved GMA to Channel 12 on the system.

Even so, some subscribers have complained still about GMA's weak signal on 12, especially in timeslots where GMA's ratings are relatively high. In response, GMA provides a telephone line where subscribers can complain to GMA about the signal quality. The phone line has been promoted during newscasts, and is being used to collect evidence in preparation for a formal complaint against SkyCable. Similar issues also occurred with GMA's secondary network, Q.

Dispute with Solar Entertainment

Due to a dispute with SkyCable, channels owned by Solar Entertainment Corporation were removed from SkyCable's lineups on January 1, 2008. The channels were "replaced" with several new channels: AXN Beyond, FOX Crime, Balls (a sports channel), Maxxx (a channel with aimed at Men), and Velvet (a channel aimed at Women).

Solar Entertainment responded to the move by starting to air programming on Associated Broadcasting Company (ABC), RJTV, and SBN, in addition to already present programming on the Radio Philippines Network (RPN). An insider stated that it was the best move, while another claimed that the troubles started when Manny Pacquiao, whose matches Solar Entertainment has exclusive rights to air and distribute, switched his loyalties from ABS-CBN to GMA.

Status of Competition

SkyCable competes with many cable TV providers in Metro Manila, some only operating in a certain locale in Metro Manila. But SkyCable's closest competitor in Metro Manila is Global Destiny Cable. Both have their own affiliates nationwide, and both provide their own cable internet services to subscribers. With the exodus of JackTV, Basketball TV and Solar Sports from SkyCable, Global Destiny is now a viable competitor.

Another major competitor in the Philippine pay TV industry was Dream Satellite TV, the country's first and only satellite TV provider. It operates nationwide because it can transmit its signals to its subscribers via satellite. Dream offers a very limited, and continuously shrinking number of channels, at prices far higher than the top packages of the cable providers.

See also

References

  • The Philippine Star, September 7, 2007, Main Section, Page 16
  • Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 8, 2007, G Section, Page 6

External links

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