The closure of SARI SARI Channel after more than a decade on air is a significant shift in the Philippine pay TV landscape, especially for viewers who grew up with its mix of classic Filipino movies, comedy reruns, and original programming.
A few notable points about this development:
SARI SARI Channel launched on January 1, 2016 through a partnership between Cignal TV and Viva TV Networks.
Its sister movie channels, Pinoy Box Office (PBO) and Viva Cinema, are also ending their carriage on Cignal platforms effective June 1.
The channel became known for airing vintage and modern films from VIVA Films, sitcom reruns, musical specials, and original productions.
In 2017, some of its programs even crossed over to TV5 through a weekend programming block, helping the channel reach free TV audiences.
The reports about VivaOne becoming VIVA’s primary focus are believable given the broader industry trend. Media companies worldwide are gradually shifting resources from traditional linear television toward streaming platforms where they have:
- direct subscription revenue,
- more viewer data,
- on-demand libraries,
- and lower dependence on carriage agreements with pay TV providers.
For VIVA specifically, consolidating content into VivaOne likely gives them stronger control over distribution of their films, series, concerts, and exclusive originals.
This also reflects the continuing decline of traditional pay TV in the Philippines as more viewers migrate to streaming services and mobile viewing platforms.
For longtime subscribers of Cignal TV, the loss of these channels marks the end of an era, especially since SARI SARI became one of the recognizable Filipino entertainment channels during the late 2010s and early 2020s.