On 27 July 1999, the station began its operations on a test broadcast phase as "Net 39" under the Eagle Broadcasting Corporation, the predecessor of Net 25.
In 2000, it was acquired by Masawa Broadcasting Corporation and became ETV 39. The network attempted to become the first free-to-air gambling channel on UHF with the nightly Bingo Pilipino draws. It also aired music videos and infomercials for the Sydney Olympics 2000. However, it signed off in 2001 as former PresidentJoseph Estrada banned its draws in response to public clamor.
As ACQ-KBN Sonshine TV / SMNI TV 39
On 8 January 2006, after the series of test broadcasts (that started from November 2005 to the first few days of January 2006), DWAQ-TV ACQ-KBN Sonshine TV 39 was launched at the first Global Thanksgiving and Worship presentation at the PhilSports Arena.
In July 2006, Sonshine Media Network International was launched as News and Public Affairs block which became a tie-up of ACQ-KBN Sonshine TV-39.
In August 2010, ACQ-KBN Sonshine TV (merger of ACQ-KBN and Sonshine Media Network International) was renamed as simply SMNI.
On 19 February 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 will be used as the main channel of SMNI on DTT, while retaining the use of Channel 39 as a secondary channel after transitioning from analog to digital signal.[2] The frequency was formerly used by AMCARA Broadcasting Network under blocktime agreement with ABS-CBN Corporation to air its digital channels on ABS-CBN TV Plus.[3] Its analog signal, on the other hand, had permanently pulled the plug sometime in 2022.
On 21 December 2023, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) suspended SMNI's operations for 30 days due to alleged violations of its broadcast franchise.[4] On 18 January 2024, the NTC issued a cease-and-desist order against SMNI for violating its 30-day suspension order as its two stations in Region VI were operational as of 27 December 2023.[5][6]
On 24 May 2016, SMNI began conducting a digital test broadcast with the ISDB-T standard via its UHF channel 40 (629.143 MHz) frequency.
NTC released implementing rules and regulations on the re-allocation of the UHF Channels 14–20 (470–512 Megahertz (MHz) band) for digital terrestrial television broadcasting (DTTB) service. All operating and duly authorized Mega Manila VHF (very high frequency) television networks are entitled to a channel assignment from Channels 14 to 20.[7]
On 26 January 2022, the National Telecommunications Commission assigned the network's television frequency on began to transmit its digital test broadcast on channel 43 as its permanent frequency assigned by NTC. 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 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.
