ABS-CBN Sports channel also goes off the air

MANILA, Philippines — ABS-CBN Sports channel S+A (Sports and Action) also went off the air Tuesday night on the heels of a cease-and-desist order from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) as the broadcast giant’s 25-year franchise expired.

ABS-CBN Sports owns the broadcast rights to the UAAP and the NCAA, the top collegiate leagues in the country.

Among the other notable sports leagues aired on S+A are ONE Championship, the Asean Basketball League and the Premier Volleyball League.

Despite having no live shows to broadcast after the cancellation of the collegiate leagues due to the coronavirus pandemic, S+A has been replaying classic games and boxing matches, among others.

The network officially stopped its nationwide broadcast at 8 p.m.

“Millions of Filipinos will lose their source of news and entertainment when ABS-CBN is ordered to go off-air on TV and radio tonight when people need crucial and timely information as the nation deals with the COVID-19 pandemic,” ABS-CBN said in a statement Tuesday.

“This is in compliance with the cease and desist order issued by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) today that prohibits ABS-CBN from continuing its broadcast operations effective immediately.”

The last time ABS-CBN was shut down by the government was when dictator Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law in September 1972.