Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), also known by its legal name Swara Sug Media Corporation (SSMC), is a Philippine broadcast media arm of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) led by the Filipino televangelist Apollo Quiboloy. Based in Davao City and Makati, it operates a network of radio and television broadcasting stations.
It currently owns and operates a sister channel (SMNI News Channel), the broadcasting network is available over terrestrial broadcast in the Philippines (until December 2023), and on cable, satellite, and online streaming worldwide. The network now owns and operates two television networks, where the main flagship station, based in Davao City, maintains an uninterrupted 24-hour service through regular repetition of a dozen self-produced Kingdom Programs in English, Filipino, and dozens of foreign languages along with news, public affairs, public service, infotainment, sports and entertainment programs. On the other hand, the network's sister channel SMNI News Channel, based in Makati, primarily provides rolling news coverage and public affairs programs, which broadcasts exclusively in Digital TV format in Metro Manila, Metro Davao, Benguet and Cagayan de Oro (until December 2023). It also maintained a network of radio stations under the "Sonshine Radio" brand of the Swara Sug Media Corporation. SMNI also has print publications such as Guide Magazine, Pinas Newspaper and Sikat Newspaper.
The broadcasting network was licensed in late 2003 by the Philippine government to operate seven analog free-to-air television channels in key cities across the country. It also has two digital terrestrial channels in Metro Manila and Metro Davao.
SMNI has been the object of various criticisms, particularly centering on right-wing populist bias and handling its own coverage through forms of disinformation.
History The Kingdom of Jesus Christ's Media Ministry, known today as SMNI, began on the radio with the program "Pagsusi sa Kamatuoran" (Searching for Truth/Paghahanap ng Katotohanan) on radio stations DXDC and DXUM in Davao City. The television ministry began in 1991, when an inexperienced cameraman filmed a footage of Quiboloy preaching at a concert crusade using a single VHS camera; the videotapes were then sent to Manila for production, even as the ministry was about to acquire their own video production equipment at that time. This paved the way for the launching of their first television program, "The Hour of Truth" aired nationally on IBC and ABS-CBN stations in the Visayas and Mindanao, followed by "Powerline" in 1995; it would eventually moved to PTV in 1998 and returned to IBC-13 a couple of years later.
On July 1, 2000, The Kingdom of Jesus Christ officially launched its 24-hour cable network, "The Q Channel" (then also known as "ACQ–TV, Q Channel", not to be confused with defunct Philippine TV network QTV), bringing the Gospel of the Kingdom from Davao City to key cities around the Philippines, which was carried by Sky Cable in Davao City, General Santos, Bacolod, Iloilo, Cebu, Tagum, and Baguio.
On February 1, 2003, DXAQ-TV Channel 43 signed on the air and began its test broadcast as "ACQ-KBN Sonshine TV-43 Davao". On April 25, 2003, The Q Channel became the "ACQ–Kingdom Broadcasting Network" (ACQ-KBN), with an expanded reach across the Asia-Pacific region and the United States via satellite, using its own satellite uplink Broadcast station located at Davao Central, also carrying the new slogan "Delivering the Good news 24 hours a day, 7 days a week". In conjunction with this, the network launched its first free TV station, Sonshine TV-43 Davao, and introduced new religious programs such as Give Us This Day, Sounds of Worship, Batang Kaharian (lit. Kingdom Child), Way Ahead, Highest Praise, Quiet Moments, and many more.
In 2004, ACQ-KBN signed an agreement with GlobeCast World TV, which aims to expand its broadcast footprint around the world. In the same year also that KJC through ACQ-KBN launched its own radio station in Davao City as "DXAQ Kingdom Radio 1404 AM".
On January 29, 2005, KJC and ACQ-KBN acquired the congressional franchise, ownership and management of the Swara Sug Media Corporation (SSMC). at the same day, ACQ-KBN and SSMC acquired all the NBC Angel Radyo AM stations from Nation Broadcasting Corporation, which in turn, operated as the "Sonshine Radio" network.
On October 31, 2005, DWAQ-TV Channel 39 signed on the air and began its test broadcast as "ACQ-KBN Sonshine TV-39 Metro Manila". On January 8, 2006, ACQ-KBN Sonshine TV 39 was launched during the first Global Thanksgiving and Worship presentation of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, which held at the Philippine Sports Arena in Pasig, the network ventured from Cable TV broadcasting to Free-to-Air TV broadcasting, and broadcasts with the transmitter power of 60 kilowatts.
On May 1, 2006, ACQ-KBN Sonshine TV launched "Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI)" as News and Public Affairs block which became a tie-up of ACQ-KBN Sonshine TV-39 in Metro Manila and ACQ-KBN Sonshine TV-43 in Davao, with the original slogan "Service First, Right Here, Right Now, Worldwide", at the same day ACQ-KBN Sonshine TV is now on 600 Nationwide in your Local Cable TV and Satellite TV operators across the Philippines.
On August 31, 2008, ACQ-KBN Sonshine TV 37 signed on the air and began its test broadcast as "ACQ-KBN Sonshine TV 37 Santiago, Isabela". November 9, 2008, ACQ-KBN Sonshine TV-37 was launched as the third TV station during the first Global Thanksgiving and Worship presentation of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ which held at Josefina T. Albano Sports Center in Cabagan broadcasting live from Santiago, Isabela to the world and broadcast transmitter power of 2,000 watts is the first relay station of Sonshine TV-43 Davao.
On August 1, 2010, a merger took place between ACQ-KBN and Sonshine TV, as the two programming blocks had been consolidated. As a result, the ACQ-KBN branding ceased to exist, and officially relaunched under the newly rebranded "SMNI". Coinciding with this, the network unveiled its new slogan "Alternative media, Alternative power, it Sustains Life" (first slogan) and "Informs, Delivers, Transforms" (second slogan), along with its new station ID.
On January 16, 2011, SMNI adopted another new slogan, "Where Everything is Possible", also with its new station ID.
On May 24, 2016, SMNI launched its own News and Public affairs channel as SMNI News Channel and it is exclusively aired over Digital Terrestrial Television on UHF Channel 40 in Metro Manila until 31 December 2022 (move to UHF Channel 43 starting 1 January 2023) and its internet Live streaming.
On August 31, 2019, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11422 which renewed Swara Sug Media Corporation license for another 25 years. The law grants SSMC a franchise to construct, install, operate, and maintain, for commercial purposes, radio broadcasting stations and television stations, including digital television system, with the corresponding facilities such as relay stations, throughout the Philippines.
On January 26, 2022, the National Telecommunications Commission assigned the network's television frequency on channel 43 which was formerly used by Mareco Broadcasting Network as a TV carry-over station of 105.1 Crossover from 1994 to 2000 and AMCARA Broadcasting Network for ABS-CBN's DTT broadcast on ABS-CBN TV Plus from 2013 to 2020. On 1 January 2023, SMNI began to transmit its digital test broadcast on UHF Channel 43 (647.143 MHz) as its permanent frequency assigned by NTC.
On February 19, 2023, SMNI DTT Channel 43 officially signed on during the first Global Thanksgiving and Worship presentation at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, Rizal. The network covered in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. Channel 43 was used as the main channel of SMNI on DTT, while retained the use of Channel 39 as a secondary channel after transitioning from analog to digital signal.
On December 21, 2023, the NTC suspended SMNI's free-to-air operations for 30 days due to alleged violations of its broadcast franchise. On 18 January 2024, NTC made the 30-day suspension order indefinite against SMNI citing the network failed to strictly comply to a recent order as its two stations in Region VI were operational as of 27 December 2023.
Since January 20, 2024, SMNI continues to broadcast for-pay television channels through 600 Cable TV and Satellite TV Operators across the Philippines.
Programming
Domestic stations
TV stations (Offline since December 2023 due to the NTC's shutdown order.)
Analog (Defunct) Branding Callsign Channel Power Type Location SMNI Davao DXAQ 43 50 kW OriginatingDavao City SMNI Laoag DWSB 35 5 kW Relay Laoag SMNI Vigan DWSP 38 5 kW Relay Vigan SMNI Isabela DWSA 37 2 kW Relay Santiago SMNI Roxas DYSW 39 1 kW Relay Roxas SMNI Butuan DXSW 39 5 kW Relay Butuan
Digital (Defunct)
Callsign Channel Frequency Power Location DWAQ 39 623.143 MHz 10 kW Metro Manila DWSY 43 647.143 MHz 44 653.143 MHz 5.5 kW DXAQ 19 503.143 MHz 5 kW Davao City
Cable (since May 1, 2006) Provider Channel Coverage Cablelink 95 Metro Manila Converge Vision 84 Sky Cable 162 Metro Manila Batangas Bulacan 59Baguio Mountainview Satellite Corporation 90 Prime Cable Network 39 Sagada Sky Cable 10Laoag Sunshine CATV 73 Vigan Satellite Cable TV 73ViganEaglevision Cable82Bacnotan Superior Cable TV 95 Pangasinan Educational Cable TV 35 Alaminos USATV 58Dagupan Sky Cable 95 Genmar Cable Communications 44 Rosales Eaglevision Cable 82 Binalonan RBC Cable Master System 90Tuguegarao Clearview Cable TV System 78 Regal Cable TV Network 52 Santiago Cablelink 95 Santa MariaAngeles City Cable Television Network 116 Angeles Multi-Network Cable Company 50Cabanatuan Prime Cable Network 66 Muñoz Satellite TV System, Inc. 97Muñoz Home Choice Cable TV 90 Eaglevision Cable 82 San Manuel Sky Cable 162Cavite City Suburban Cable Network 105 Cablelink 95 Bacoor Community Cable TV 78 Los Baños Royal Cable 35Santa Rosa Sky Cable 162 Kabayan Cable Corporation 28 Binangonan Angono Taytay Cardona Sinag Cable Network 95Antipolo Sky Cable 162 Puerto Princesa CATV 18Puerto PrincesaPrime Cable Network80CatainganCharles Cable TV System13Masbate Masbate Cable, Inc. 90 DCTV Cable Network 114 Legazpi Caceres Cable TV 65NagaDCTV Cable Network114Sorsogon City ESTV Cable Network 108 Aklan Cable TV Network 45Kalibo Kalibo Cable TV Network 100 Filvision Alto Cable 42 Roxas Sky Cable 50Iloilo City Cable Star Inc. 64 Sky Cable 51Bacolod New Bacolod Cable 132 Sky Cable Cebu 37Cebu CityCine Cenu Television Network99 Lapu-Lapu Mandaue Naga Sky Cable 64DumagueteFil-Products Cable Company 76 62Tacloban Leyte Cable TV Network 14 Fil-Products Cable Company 81Calbayog Calbayog CATV 95 Sky Cable Zamboanga 49Zamboanga City Prime Cable Network 37 Sindangan Misamis Cable TV Network 69Ozamiz Fil-Products Cable Company 90 Parasat Cable TV 18Cagayan de Oro Jade Cable TV 37 Sky Cable 51Cotabato City Cotabato Cable TV Network 57 Sky Cable 37General Santos Lakandula Cable TV Network 97 Sky Cable 29Polomolok JVL Star Cable 97 Trinity Cable TV Network 47 PantukanSky Cable 14 Tagum 14Davao City 46 Davao Cableworld Network 97 Fil Products Cable Company 97ButuanZ-Energy CATV 49 83 Medina 08 Alegria 78 Placer69 Salay Talisayan GSat Direct TV 78Nationwide Sky Direct 24
Radio stations (Defunct)