DWCP-DTV

DWCP-DTV is a television station serving Metro Manila and nearby provinces in the Philippines. Operating on UHF channel 21, it is associated with Southern Broadcasting Network and Solar Entertainment Corporation and serves as the flagship terrestrial station of the SolarFlix network. The station's studios are located at the Worldwide Corporate Center in Mandaluyong, where it has shared facilities with organizations formerly connected with Solar, while its hybrid digital transmission facility is situated at the Solar Entertainment Complex in Antipolo, Rizal. The station began local UHF broadcasting in Metro Manila in May 1992 under the name World TV 21. It was initially operated by Kampana Television Corporation, with content drawn from international and domestic-oriented sources including ABC, CNN, and ESPN. Its original concept was influenced by the programming style of FEN Channel 17, a former station serving the Clark U.S. Air Base that had closed after the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo. Southern Broadcasting Network subsequently operated the channel as SBN Channel 21. Solar Entertainment became closely involved with the station in 2008, when it leased airtime on SBN to carry ETC, one of its entertainment channels. That arrangement ended in 2011 when ETC moved to Radio Philippines Network following the latter's privatization. Solar and SBN then entered a renewed programming relationship for Talk TV, which evolved into the Solar News Channel on October 30, 2012. In December 2013, Solar News Channel programming moved to RPN to obtain broader nationwide distribution, allowing ETC to return to SBN. RPN and Solar TV Network were later sold to the ALC Group of Companies in August 2014, after which Solar News Channel became 9TV. The station also played a role in the Philippines' transition from analog to digital terrestrial television. SBN introduced digital broadcasting in 2015 using a new transmission platform developed in connection with Solar's digital television initiatives and the Easy TV service. Its digital multiplex carried Solar programming and initially experienced an encryption-related reception problem that restricted access to some subchannels on ordinary receiving equipment; the issue was reported as resolved by September 25, 2017. The station ceased analog transmission on September 12, 2019, and moved to digital operation on its post-transition UHF channel 21 frequency. Although Easy TV ended operations on September 30, 2019, the station remained on air, with its continuing free-to-air services distinct from the discontinued freemium channels. DWCP-DTV's terrestrial service generally operates from 8:00 a.m. to midnight, while its programming is available around the clock through cable and satellite distribution. Its identity has changed several times as control, programming partnerships, and Solar Entertainment's channel portfolio evolved, but its central role has remained the provision of a Metro Manila broadcast platform for Solar-affiliated entertainment, news, and digital television programming.

DWCP-DTV traces its broadcasting history to May 1992, when a local UHF television service began operating in Metro Manila as World TV 21. The station was initially run by Kampana Television Corporation and carried programming sourced from services including ABC, CNN, and ESPN. Its format was conceived in part as a successor to the type of English-language and international programming associated with FEN Channel 17, which had served the Clark U.S. Air Base before being forced off the air after the Mount Pinatubo eruption in 1991. The facility became associated with Southern Broadcasting Network and was commonly identified as SBN Channel 21. A major transformation began in 2008 when Solar Entertainment Corporation leased airtime on SBN to distribute ETC, its entertainment channel. This gave Solar a Metro Manila terrestrial outlet while allowing SBN's channel 21 infrastructure to carry a more recognizable commercial network service. The initial arrangement ended on March 2, 2011, when ETC shifted to Radio Philippines Network after RPN's privatization. Solar and SBN nevertheless continued working together, launching Talk TV as a new programming venture. On October 30, 2012, the service was renamed Solar News Channel. On December 1, 2013, Solar News Channel programming moved from SBN to RPN to obtain wider national coverage. ETC returned to SBN the day before. The broader Solar-RPN relationship later changed when RPN and Solar TV Network were sold to the ALC Group of Companies in August 2014. Solar News Channel subsequently became 9TV, while the channel 21 facility continued its relationship with Solar-affiliated services. The station's technical development accelerated in 2015. SBN replaced its older analog transmission tower at the Strata 2000 building in Pasig with Solar's newly built facility at the Solar Entertainment Complex in Antipolo, Rizal. The new site supported improved analog reception and digital broadcasting. SBN began digital television transmission in 2015, including services connected with Solar's Easy TV digital terrestrial television platform. During part of the digital service's operation, an encryption setting prevented some subchannels from being received except on compatible set-top boxes. The reported reception problem was corrected by September 25, 2017. DWCP-DTV terminated its analog signal on September 12, 2019, as part of the Philippines' transition to digital terrestrial television. It used a flash-cut approach, moving the digital service from its pre-transition channel 22 to the analog-era channel 21 for post-transition operations. Easy TV closed on September 30, 2019, but the station continued broadcasting, retaining its free-to-air services after the freemium channels associated with the service ended. In its current identity, DWCP-DTV is associated with SolarFlix and functions as a Metro Manila-centered terrestrial and digital television outlet. Its primary coverage includes Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, and Rizal, with portions of several neighboring provinces also reached by the signal.

• 2019

  Analog transmission ends

  [1]DWCP-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  DWCP-DTV ends analog broadcasting on September 12 and continues digitally on UHF channel 21.

• 2015

  Digital broadcasting and Antipolo transmission facility

  [1]DWCP-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  SBN introduces digital broadcasting and shifts transmission infrastructure to Solar's Antipolo facility.

• 2013

  Solar News Channel moves to RPN

  [1]DWCP-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  The news service transfers to RPN for broader national distribution, and ETC returns to SBN.

• 2012

  Talk TV becomes Solar News Channel

  [1]DWCP-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  The channel identity changes on October 30.

• 2011

  Talk TV partnership begins

  [1]DWCP-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  Following ETC's move to RPN, SBN and Solar collaborate on Talk TV.

• 2008

  Solar starts the ETC airtime arrangement

  [1]DWCP-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  Solar Entertainment begins leasing SBN airtime to distribute ETC.

• 1992

  World TV 21 begins broadcasting

  [1]DWCP-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  A local UHF station begins service in Metro Manila in May under the World TV 21 identity.

A Metro Manila UHF television platform that combines terrestrial broadcasting with Solar Entertainment-affiliated programming and digital multiplex distribution.

• Television broadcasting · 1992

  UHF channel 21 terrestrial service

  DWCP-DTV's primary broadcast service serves Metro Manila and surrounding areas through UHF channel 21. The terrestrial schedule generally runs from 8:00 a.m. to midnight, with reception extending into several nearby provinces depending on location and signal conditions.

• Digital terrestrial television · 2015

  Digital television multiplex

  The station's digital platform carries Solar-affiliated services through a multiplex transmitted from Antipolo. Digital broadcasting began in 2015, initially in connection with Solar's Easy TV initiative. The platform remained in operation after Easy TV closed, although its freemium channels were discontinued.

• Pay television distribution

  Cable and satellite distribution

  In addition to terrestrial broadcasting, DWCP-DTV programming is distributed through cable and satellite providers. These platforms have offered continuous daily availability, including hours beyond the station's standard terrestrial schedule.

• 2019

  Complete the analog-to-digital transitionGeneration change

  Background

  The Philippines was transitioning terrestrial television services from analog transmission to digital broadcasting.

  Action taken

  DWCP-DTV ended its analog channel 21 signal on September 12 and flash-cut its digital operation to channel 21 after previously using digital channel 22.

  Aftermath

  The station continued as a digital terrestrial service after the analog shutdown.

  Source

• 2015

  Upgrade transmission and launch digital broadcastingOther

  Background

  The station required improved transmission capability as the Philippines developed digital terrestrial television.

  Action taken

  SBN replaced its former Pasig transmitter with Solar's Antipolo facility and began digital broadcasting.

  Aftermath

  The new facility improved signal capability and supported Solar's digital multiplex and Easy TV initiative.

  Source

• 2008

  Lease airtime to Solar EntertainmentStrategy

  Background

  Solar Entertainment needed a terrestrial Metro Manila outlet for its ETC entertainment programming.

  Action taken

  SBN allowed Solar to lease airtime on channel 21 for ETC.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement established a long-running operational relationship between SBN's station and Solar's channel portfolio.

  Source

1. 1DWCP-DTVen.wikipedia.org