CNN Philippines Network News, or simply Network News was the first flagship evening newscast of CNN Philippines. It aired seven days a week at 6:00pm PST. The program's 60-minute weekday broadcast was anchored by the network's chief correspondent Pia Hontiveros and a 30-minute weekend edition was anchored by Mai Rodriguez. CNN Philippines Network News premiered on June 18, 2012 as Solar Network News and ended on March 26, 2017 after almost five years under different incarnations
Background
As a weekday newscast
The newscast was first known as Solar Network News and was launched on June 18, 2012 on Talk TV, by then aired on SBN UHF Channel 21, as a result of the formation as Solar Television Network's news and current affairs division, which in turn was brought by privatization of Radio Philippines Network by Solar Entertainment. It was carried over upon the channel's rebranding as Solar News Channel in October 30, with its graphics updated on January 7, 2013. Solar Network News was simulcasted on Radio Philippines Network from October 30, 2012 until January 11, 2013 after RPN ceased production of its evening newscast RPN NewsWatch due to the retrenchment of the program's production team and other employees of the privatized network. The simulcast, however, was given to Solar Nightly News on January 14 onwards to allow the via satellite broadcast of American Idol season 12 to Free TV viewers. The original plan was to limit the AI "via satellite" broadcast to cable viewers while RPN would continue to air the newscast at 6pm. On December 1, 2013, Solar News Channel switched its affiliation to RPN, making it a program at its own right. Solar Network News dropped the Solar branding on July 21, 2014 upon the impending acquisition of Solar Television Network to the ALC Group of Companies a month later, with a new titlecard and graphic introduced on August 25, 2014 following channel's rebrand to 9TV. The current incarnation was launched on March 16, 2015 in line with the launch of CNN Philippines along with a CNN-themed graphics and a revamped news studio. On March 24, 2017, CNN Philippines Network News officially ended its weeknight run.
Weekend expansion
Prior to the third and final reformat, Solar News and subsequently 9News did not produce a weekend newscast except for severe weather coverage. Notable for such instance was Typhoon Hagupit in December 2014. On June 13, 2015, CNN Philippines Network News expanded to seven days a week, branding the weekend editions as Network News Weekend albeit in a capacity as a half-hour newscast, unlike the 1-hour weeknight edition. Roanna Jamir was the inaugural anchor while doubling her duty as Weekend Updates top of the hour presenter. On November 29, 2015, Roanna Jamir made her final broadcast on Network News Weekend, prior to leaving the network. On December 5, 2015, CNN Philippines senior correspondent Ina Andolong replaced Roanna Jamir as the interim Saturday anchor on Network News Weekend while Nicolette Henson-Hizon and Menchu Macapagal rotated as Sunday anchor. By January 2016, Andolong consolidated the weekend chair. As the Philippine version of New Day, a morning television show on CNN/US launched on February 15, 2016, CNN Philippines newscasts updated their title cards with deep blue touch, similar in those newscasts in CNN International and revised their musical scoring. Claire Celdran replaced Mai Rodriguez to anchor the noontime edition of CNN Philippines Newsroom, while Rodriguez took over the Network News Weekend anchor chair since February 20, 2016.
Special editions
During news of urgent nature such as scheduled events, severe weather and breaking news, the weekday and weekend editions run two hours and one respectively. Notable of these instances are during the President's State of the Nation Address on an annual basis, the press conference of the then-President-elect Rodrigo Duterte that became notorious for his attitude with Mariz Umali, and more recently, the night of the impending arrest of Senator Leila de Lima. The newscast ran for nearly two hours with Senator Antonio Trillanes speaking with Pia Hontiveros.
Cancellation
On March 7, 2017, the network announced that it will retire the newscast as a part of its sweeping program restructuring. It was replaced by News Night with Pia Hontiveros effective March 27. The network's move to retire the newscast was also partly due to viewers' complaints of retaining the Network News name despite rebranding three times. On March 26, 2017, CNN Philippines Network News Weekend officially ended the near 5-year run of Network News.
