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State on Philippines:

1. Wikipedia
In the Philippines, digital television broadcasts can be received through digital cable and direct broadcast satellite. Digital terrestrial television (DTT) services are in
development by the major broadcasting companies of the Philippines.
The Philippines was using the American NTSC standard for analog television. The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) announced in June 2010 that the
Philippines would use the JapaneseISDB-T standard for digital television, and issued a circular stating that the country's broadcasters must discontinue their analog
services by the transition deadline of 11:59 p.m. (Philippine Standard Time,UTC+8) on December 31, 2015. The commission will be using the ultra-high frequency
television channels from 14 to 51 (470-698 MHz) for DTT broadcast service and deliberating channels 14 to 20 (470-512 MHz) which is being used for fixed and
mobile services.

However, before the announcement, several broadcasters performed trial broadcasts using the European DVB-T standard.
Preparation for the transition to digital television commenced with an issuance of Executive Order 546, series of 1979 and Republic Act 3846 or the Radio Control Law
as amended by the local governing body for broadcast services, the NTC adopted the said order to promulgate rules and regulations in order to facilitate the entry of
digital broadcast services in the Philippines and implement a specific standard for the delivery of DTT services.
Deployment
Terrestrial
ABS-CBN: ABS-CBN Corporation intends to spend 1 billion pesos on its transition to digital broadcasting. ABS-CBN announced on April 4, 2011 that it
was prepared to launch 5 free "premium" channels on a DTT platform as soon as the NTC finalized its regulations surrounding digital television. ABS-CBN
will be using UHF channel 43 (596602 MHz) for its ISDB-T test, and channel 51 (692698 MHz), which was previously used for test broadcasts using
DVB-T.
PTV: The state broadcaster People's Television Network began DTT trials using ISDB-T in 2009 using channel 48. In 2011, the Japanese government
donated additional equipment to the network in order to improve its digital services. PTV 4 is also planning to operate an emergency notification
system using the digital platform.
ABC: ABC Development Corporation, operator of TV5 will use ISDB-T for its DTT trials; a simulcast of DWET-TV on DWDZ-TV.
GMA: GMA Network, Inc. is applying for a digital television license from the NTC to install and maintain transmitting stations that will be attuned with and
utilize to offer digital terrestrial television and digital mobile TV broadcast services,
[11][12]
using channel 27. GMA was vocal about the NTC's choice of DTV
standard; on March 27, 2011, a GMA executive proposed the use of the updated European standard DVB-T2 as opposed to ISDB-T due to its better quality.
However, the NTC did not change its decision. However after few years they are ready to adopt the ISDB-T standard.
Eagle Broadcasting Corporation: In partnership with the Christian Era Broadcasting Service, the companies launched the first digital television station in the
country, DZCE-TV,
BEAM: Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Media, Inc., owned by a joint consortium led by Bethlehem Holdings, Inc., an investee of Globe Telecom
Retirement Fund through its holding company HALO Holdings Inc. (which owns 39 percent of Altimax Broadcasting Company), applied for digital
terrestrial broadcast but still vocal to the DVB-T2 digital system. The station uses the frequency ofUHF Channel 31.
Cable[edit]
SkyCable: In October 2010, SkyCable announced it would migrate at least 80% of its subscribers in Metro Manila to a digital cable platform with
new Digiboxes by 2011. SkyCable allocated 20 percent of its Php1 billion capital expenditure in order to fund the migration. SkyCable adopted the DVB-
C standard for its digital cable system. The new platform also allowed SkyCable to additionally introduce high definition channels to its lineup.
Destiny Cable: In March 2009, Destiny Cable began to offer its own digital cable services, investing Php500 to Php700 million on headend and
infrastructure updates and the distribution of digital set-top boxes for its subscribers.
Parasat Cable: Parasat Cable TV, the cable provider of Mindanao, introduced digital cable in July 2009.
Satellite[edit]
Cignal Digital TV: Cignal Digital TV and its parent company MediaScape (which is owned by the PLDT) invested Php1.5 billion in the implementation of
its digital satellite TV services. Cignal uses theDVB-S2 standard for its digital satellite platform.
Developments[edit]
July 2007. Television firms who plan to broadcast digital terrestrial television services to television and other communication devices cannot implement such
as the commission is revising its guidelines on digital television programming. However, the commission allows broadcast firms to test its system while
waiting for the implementing rules and regulations (IRR).
June 2009. In formulating the transition from analog television broadcast to digital terrestrial television (DTT) transmission in the Philippines and to guide
the commission in outlining the planned implementing rules and regulations for the enactment of DTT service, ultra-high frequency television channels 14 to
51 (470-698 MHz) will be assigned to the DTT Broadcast Service and deliberating further channels 14 to 20 (470-512 MHz) which is being used by Fixed
and Mobile Service. On June 24, 2009, the local unit of the commission, the Frequency Management Division is assigned to formulate a frequency
allocation plan for the effective transmission of appropriate users of channels 14 to 20.
February 2010. The Philippines is anticipated to deferment its planned analog television signal automatic switch-off in 2015 due to technicalities in
implementing an official digital terrestrial television platform. While other members of Association of Southeast Asian Nations cooperatively accepted the
digital video broadcasting-terrestrial or the DVB-T as its favored standard, the Philippines have not adopted any platform
.

December 2010. The governments of Japan and the Philippines reached a collaboration decision in adopting a memorandum of cooperation resulting in the
commissions earlier pronouncement to use the Japaneses Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial platform for digital terrestrial television
broadcast standard for the Philippines. According to the Commission on Information and Communications Technology, the Japanese government is keen on
guiding Filipino counterpart to the technology. The Philippine government also requested its counterpart to shoulder the cost of set-top boxes and also
deliberating in rescheduling the compulsory switchover from analog transmission to digital broadcast from an earlier target.
February 2011. The National Telecommunications Commission plans to implement the digital terrestrial television service in select key cities in the
Philippines in 2012. The governing body desires the transition be implemented gradually. The technical working group has yet not classified where the
transition will take place. Key cities in the Philippines are being considered but in the absence of an implementing rules and regulations, the digital terrestrial
television service may not be fully consummate to the viewing public. While the transition will be made progressively, broadcasting networks can still
convey analog television service although DTT is being rationalized in other areas. Meanwhile, the commission set an 85 percent compliance rate before it
consider terminating all analog signals for broadcast transmission.
March 2011. The National Telecommunications Commission asked to reevaluate the platform to be used for the Philippines digital television broadcast. The
regulator is studying the possible implementation of a newer platform, the European second-generation Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T2)
substituting the Japanese Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial(ISDB-T) standard that the commission adopted earlier and was the basis of
creating implementing rules and regulations for digital broadcast. Experts announced the DVB-T2 is superior to its Japanese counterpart. Broadcasting
firms, GMA Network, Inc. and TV5 conveyed their support to reevaluate its earlier decision to adopt ISDB-T platform. The Commission adopted the ISDB-
T primarily owing in terms of affordability.
April 2011. One of Philippines broadcasting firms, ABS-CBN Corporation, criticized the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) for conveying
varied indications on the Philippines official stand on digital television standard. The firm panned the commission on its incompetence in supporting its
initial pronouncement to implement Japanese digital television standard, the Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial (ISDB-T). In 2010, the
commission officially led the digital television period in the Philippines and releases a memorandum circular agreeing to the use of ISDB-T as the standard
digital platform. But in recent developments, the commission is considering the European digital television platform, the European Digital Video Broadcast-
Terrestrial (DVB-T). According to the commission, the European platform is superior to its Japanese counterpart.
May 2011. Television companies in the Philippines have supported the local governing body to reevaluate the digital television standard to be used, and the
attempt to reconsider the advancement of the Japanese technology (ISDB-T) over the newer version of the European digital television platform.
Broadcasting companies initiated to delay the switchover provided the technology will be used is far more advanced than the initial digital standard adopted
on June 11, 2010. GMA Network, Inc. and TV5 agreed to do comparative tests with the European and Japanese standard. The commission is simultaneously
drafting the implementing rules and regulations for digital terrestrial television broadcast under the Japanese platform and reviewing the DVB-T2 European
standard.
August 2011. Philippine local agency, the National Telecommunication Commission has finalized its evaluation on the chosen standard for the digital
terrestrial television (DTT) broadcast service in the Philippines. The commission adopted the Japans Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Television
(ISDB-T) standards over its European counterpart, the Digital Video Broadcasting-Television (DVB-T2).
October 2013. The National Telecommunication Commission reconfirmed the recommendation to adopt the Japanese Digital Television standard as the
country's national TV standard after a public hearing.

2. Philippine Television Wiki
DTV switchover
The NTC initially decided that the Philippines will use and adopt the European standard DVB-T for terrestrial transmissions. After the shutdown of analog television
(which is initially scheduled on December 31, 2015), the European standard for digital will replace the current (United States) standard for analog, NTSC.
After the release of the draft resolution from the NTC, Philippine television broadcasting giant ABS-CBN had applied for the digital television-terrestrial service (DTT)
license to the National Telecommunications Commission of the Philippines using the European DVB-T
[1]
standard. ABS-CBN is currently experimenting with the
transmission of digital signals on Channel 51.
The Associated Broadcasting Company (TV5) have also expressed their intention of switching their current analog television broadcast set-up (DWET-TV 5). They are
set to test digital TV broadcast DVB-H on Channel 47 once proper approval from the NTC will be issued. However, due to the change of management (when MPB
Primedia Inc. took over the station's airtime) and rechristening the network as TV5, it is still unknown if their digital TV plans will still go through.
GMA Network also planned to test DVB-H in Manila, as demand for content on cellphones increases. However, their application to convert their UHF station DWDB-
TV for digital broadcast service is still pending approval from the NTC.
On November 2007 (a year after adoption), after a change with the leadership in NTC, the government body announced that it will reconsider other standards for
replacing DVB-T. ISDB-T was already testing by government-owned TV stations. GEM-TV 49 of Iglesia ni Cristo has also made a test broadcast using the same
channel on October 2008.
Net 25 with the help of GEMNET, had the first digital and full HD coverage of the 2010 Philippine elections via the ISDB-T system. It also offered real-time election
results from via datacasting. However, the coverage is only available in some areas in the Philippines.
As of today, majority of the networks and organizations favor the ISDB-T standard. ABS-CBN, GMA, TV5, Networks run by the government (NBN, RPN and IBC),
networks owned by the Iglesia ni Cristo (GEMNET and Net-25), and the Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas are in favor of the Japanese-based ISDB-T.
On June 11, the National Telecommunications Commission of the Philippines announced that the country will use the Japanese ISDB-T standard

3. Daily Inquirer
MANILA, PhilippinesGMA Network Inc. continues to buck the industry, rejecting once again the digital television standard developed in Japan, despite recent
endorsements for the platform from all other major broadcast networks and government regulators.
In a statement, GMA Network admitted that it was currently conducting field tests using Japans Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting platform for terrestrial
television (ISDB-T).
But the company remained unconvinced, saying it would not abandon its position favoring the second-generation Digital Video Broadcasting platform for terrestrial TV
(DVB-T2), which it considered to be the best technology available in the market today.
GMA continues to maintain its position that the country should adopt DVB-T2 standard over the ISDB-T, given the clear technical superiority of the European
standard, the company said.
GMA Network also said that while it was currently conducting tests utilizing the Japanese standard, this does not mean that it has conceded its position favoring DVB-
T2 nor that it has adopted ISDB-T.
GMA earlier described the ISDB-T standard as inferior to the European platform, which offered lower power consumption and better data transmission.
The company likewise cited the more widespread adoption of the DVB-T2 standard around the world, which would result in better economies of scale that would bring
equipment prices down.
ABS-CBN Corp. of the Lopez group has been conducting tests on digital TV since 2011 using the ISDB-T standard.
Manuel V. Pangilinans TV5 likewise started ISDB-T field tests late last year.
The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) has also endorsed the ISDB-T standard, describing it as a better fit for the Philippines since the technology was
developed in Japan which, like the Philippines, is a disaster-prone archipelago.
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) last month also expressed its support for the ISDB-T standard.
The NTC cited the lower prices of set-top boxesdevices needed by older TV sets to convert digital signals to pictures and soundsgiving the ISDB-T an edge over
the European platform.
Digital TV broadcasting allows for the transmission of larger amounts of data over airwaves, promising cable TV-quality services for free-to-air TV subscribers.

4. ABS-CBN News
MANILA - The Philippines has begun the process of shifting to the Japanese digital TV standard from an analog system after it was approved by President Benigno
Aquino, one of his communications officers said Tuesday.
Herminio Coloma said that on Oct. 29 the National Telecommunications Commission held a public hearing on its proposed memorandum that sets the Integrated
Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) standard as the sole standard in the delivery of Digital Terrestrial Television services in the Philippines.
It is also "aligned with the government's objective of zero casualties in times of calamities as he notes that at least 20 typhoons hit the Philippines every year, and that
being situated within the Pacific Ring of Fire and with six active faults, Filipinos are exposed "to constant danger and adversity."
"President Aquino has emphasized that the Philippines' choice for the ISDB-T system is anchored upon the built-in emergency alert system for mobile phones and
television," Coloma said, recalling how many potential victims of the March 11, 2011 calamities in Japan were spared because of the system.
Coloma said there are approximately 95 million mobile phone subscribers in the Philippines and that any mobile device without an ISDB-T chip can be hooked to a
dongle to be able to receive mobile transmission and early warning.
Another factor for the adoption is the lower cost for acquiring a setup box compatible with existing television sets, Coloma said.
Coloma said all major stakeholder groups already signified their agreement to the ISDB-T system and a set of implementing rules and regulations will follow in the
coming months, making the Philippines compliant.
Japan had long been urging the Philippines to adopt the system since it was considered in 2010 against Europe's Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial 2, with Japanese
Ambassador to Manila Toshinao Urabe saying a year ago the delay entails lost economic opportunity for the industry.


5. Interaksyon
MANILA - The Philippines is unlikely to meet its target of migrating to digital TV by 2015, according to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
"Right now, if we are going to start by 2014, that should be too short," said NTC chief Gamaliel Cordoba.
The Aquino administration last year decided to adopt Japan's standard for digital TV. But the government has yet to issue the implementing rules and regulations (IRR)
for the country's shift from the analog format.
A key hurdle would be the cost of set-top boxes, which cost from $10-11 each.
Cordoba said NTC is partial to allowing broadcast companies to simulcast in analog and digital to make the transition smooth.
Last November, the NTC issued a Memorandum Circular No. 05-11-2013, adopting Japan's Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) standard for the
Philippines' migration to digital TV.
The NTC order comes on the heels of President Benigno Aquino III's promise to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that the Philippines would choose Japan's
standard over that of Europe. Aquino made the promise during a state visit to Japan in October last year.
The regulator in 2010 issued an order adopting ISDB-T as the standard and released draft IRR in July 2011, but Malacaang ordered a review of Europe's Digital Video
Broadcasting-Terrestrial 2 (DVB-T2).

5. Sunstar
PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has given the go-signal to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to begin the groundwork for the migration of the
Philippines to digital terrestrial television using the Japanese system. Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., in a regular press
briefing, admitted that the country's migration to digital TV from analog would entail some amount of money from the consuming public since the people have to
purchase set-up box for their current television sets if they opt not to buy new sets which are already digitally-capable.
The ISDB-T paves the way for digital broadcast in the entire country, Coloma said.The decision to adopt the Japanese technology was reached after a series of
consultations by the President's economic team, the Department of Science and Technology and the NTC with various stakeholders, including broadcasters. The last
public hearing was held on October 29 where major stakeholders approved the draft memorandum circular for the ISDB-T system.
He said ISDB-T has a built-in early warning system to enable people with TV sets, mobile phones and other hand-held gadgets with TV receivers to receive early
warning announcements and advisories from the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council.
It has also a built-in mobile transmission that can send early warnings to more than 100 million mobile phone users in the country at the shortest possible, Coloma said.
"These features are very much applicable to the Philippines as we have the same situation as Japan in terms of natural calamities," Coloma explained.
"This development is most relevant to a country prone to natural calamities and will help increase our reaction and response to calamities. The President is glad that our
broadcasters are one with the government in adopting the Japanese system for the same reasons," he said.
"Another factor is the lower cost for acquiring a set top box compatible with existing television sets. We expect that by yearend 2013, the NTC, in coordination with the
Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, will be able to conduct public consultations leading to the promulgation of the implementing rules and regulations," Coloma
said.
Asked of the possible cost in availing the new technology, Coloma only cited the amount of each dongle, which could be attached to a mobile phone. He said that this
could cost $11 per piece based on an order quantity of 500,000.

6. GMA News
Filipino viewers will have to shell out nearly P1,000 for set-top boxes in the shift toward digital television using the Japanese Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-
Terrestrial (ISDB-T) standard from the current analog system in place.

Network giants ABS-CBN Corp. and GMA Network Inc. were going along with the shift to ISDB-T standard since they have already spent billions of pesos ahead of
the actual shift to digital TV.

ABS-CBN spent P2 billion and GMA Network spent almost P1 billion in preparation for the shift. TV5, meanwhile, invested P500 million in the run up to the new
standard.

Cabarios said a technical working group will be created in the second week of December to formulate the implementing rules and regulation for the shift that inlcude
the actual price of digital set-top boxes.

Cabarios said consumers should not pay more than P1,000 for the set-top boxes for an analog TV to receive digital signal.

DOTC's Information and Communications Technology Office determined the Japanese standard is the more appropriate system because Europe's Digital Video
Broadcasting-Terrestrial 2 standard has higher modulation and more complicated modulation techniques.

Other countries that have adopted ISDB-T are Brazil, Peru, Chile, Venzuela, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Paraguay.

NTC was supposed to issue the implementing rules and regulations for digital TV in July 2010 but this was postponed after Malacaang ordered a review. JDS/VS,
GMA News

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