net25: GEMNET and NET 25 jubilant with RP’s use of ISDB-T

“I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”

Quoting the line from Robert Frost’s famous poem, the choice of Japan’s digital TV standard for the Philippines is a case of ‘a road less traveled’ for the two major networks that fully support the adoption of the Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting technology (ISDB-T) in the country.

The Global Electronic Media Network (GEMNet), media arm of the Iglesia Ni Cristo and NET 25, the TV station of Eagle Broadcasting Corporation, stood their ground to support and promote the Japanese standard for its technical superiority at a time when other TV networks in the country favored DVB-T, the European standard and ATSC, the American standard.

Upon receiving the news of the issuance of a draft order by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) declaring the use of the Japanese system, GEMNET and NET 25 expressed jubilation.

“Outside Japan, the Philippines is the very first country in Asia to implement Japanese standard in digital TV. Hence, it is also historic that the country picks an Asian technology that is known worldwide for its flexibility and superiority,” GEMNET In-Charge of Digital TV Project, Engr. Caesar F. Villadiego said.

Villadiego led a team to monitor Japanese technology developments at the annual International Broadcast Equipment Exhibition (InterBEE) and regularly meets government representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication (MIC) in Tokyo, Japan. He also presented the results of GEMNET’s independent technical comparative study of two digital TV standards to MIC in 2008.

Having commissioned GEMNET as its technology partner, NET 25 will largely benefit from the wide headstart that it has created in digital TV broadcasting. In fact, this is a five-year advantage compared to the digital switch in 2015 imposed by the government.

NET 25 is the first free TV to use HD systems in the production of programs. This continues without let-up as the first HD Studio in the country built by NET 25 is now operational. Some of these programs are aired live via ISDB-T test broadcast on Channel 49.
“With ISDB-T, NET 25 made history with its digital imprint in the first automated Philippine elections through its Full HD and digital TV coverage. From data gathering and production to post-production, NET 25 is fully digital,” NET 25 Chief Marketing Officer, Caesar R. Vallejos said.

Aiming for an aggressive global expansion, GEMNET and NET 25 will embark on a stronger digital TV partnership to be more competitive and relevant in the industry. In the end, it will be the viewing public who will benefit from the digital technology in broadcasting with interactivity features and robust, life-like images.

For GEMNET and NET 25, ISDB-T ushers a new era in television.

Source: net25

Business World: Sharp to make digital boxes as RP adopts Japan standard

THE JAPANESE government will assist the Philippines in the manufacture and installation of digital boxes to be used for the transition to digital television in five years, with Sharp Corp. willing to put up a manufacturing plant that will create new jobs and generate export revenues, regulators and an official from the Japanese embassy said last week.

The government is eyeing a switch to digital TV by 2015.

Motohiko Kato, deputy chief of mission of the Japanese Embassy, said the digital boxes for the Japanese system, which cost $10.98 per unit, are currently manufactured in China.

“To date, countries like Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Paraguay are implementing the Japanese standard but the digital boxes are from China,” Mr. Kato said last Friday after regulators adopted Japan’s Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial or ISDB-T system as the Philippines’ digital television standard.

National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) Commissioner Gamaliel A. Cordoba said there is even a possibility of the Philippines eventually exporting digital boxes.

“The digital boxes will be manufactured here in the country and will provide 1,000 jobs to Filipinos for the next three to five years. We will also ask [the Japanese] to manufacture locally every equipment that they will need to install these boxes,” he said.

“In the near future, we hope that they will let us to export the digital boxes manufactured here to the Latin America where they have a big concentration,” Mr. Cordoba told reporters.

“Sharp Philippines pledged to set up a manufacturing plant in the Philippines to help cut prices of the set-top boxes that will be required for non-digital TVs,” Mr. Cordoba added.

It was not clear whether the government will subsidize the cost of manufacturing the digital boxes.

Last Friday, a memorandum of cooperation was signed by representatives from the Japanese embassy in Manila and NTC officials as part of the planned shift to digital television upon the adoption of the Japanese ISDB-T system.

NTC officials had said the decision to adopt the Japanese standard was reached with the backing of stakeholders from the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, GMA Network, Inc., ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp., RPN Channel 9, and Vanguard Radio Network Co., Inc.

“The introduction of digital technology in the broadcasting service would ensure the competitiveness of the broadcast industry and afford them the opportunity to provide enhanced services to better serve the viewing public,” the NTC draft circular said. - dated 14 June 2010, 09:04 PM.

Source: Business World

Business Insight Malaya: NTC picks Japanese model for digital TV

The National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) yesterday announced that the Philippines will adopt the Japanese system in the migration to digital TV.

In a two-page draft memorandum circular, the NTC said that IT has chosen the Japanese standard after convening two technical working groups and upon the recommendation of the majority stakeholders of the television broadcast industry including the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipias (KBP). NTC chose the Japanese standard over the European standard.

The circular said in order to keep pace with the development in technology , the introduction of digital technology in the broadcasting service would ensure the competitiveness of the broadcast industry and afford them the opportunity to provide enhanced services to better serve the viewing public.

The implementation of the digital technology in television services is intended to provide greater number of channels (SDTV) and/or better quality of picture and sound through a convenient aerial antenna instead of a satellite or cable connection.

After choosing the standard, the NTC would set a schedule on the country’s migration from analog to digital TV. It earlier planned to do it by 2015 to 2020.

NTC is inviting all affected and interested parties to a public hearing on the proposed memorandum circular today at 2 pm at the NTC Executive Conference Room, 3rd floor NTC Bldg., BIR Road, East Triangle, Diliman, Quezon City. - dated 11 June 2010.

Source: Business Insight Malaya

NTC Memorandum Circular No. 02-06-2010: Standards for Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Broadcast Service

MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR

No. 02-06-2010

Subject:            Standard for Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Broadcast Service

Whereas, pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) No. 546, series of 1979, and Act 3846 (Radio Control Law) as amended, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is vested with the power to promulgate rules and regulations, as public safety and interest may require, to encourage a larger and more effective and efficient use of communications, radio and television broadcasting facilities and spectrum, and to maintain effective competition among private entities;

Whereas, in order to keep pace with the developments in technology, the introduction of digital technology in the broadcasting service would ensure the competitiveness of the broadcast industry and afford them the opportunity to provide enhanced services to better serve the viewing public;

Whereas, in order to facilitate the entry of digital broadcast services in the country and for the protection of the consuming public, there is a need to adopt a specific standard for the delivery of digital terrestrial television (DTT) services;

Wherefore, after convening two (2) Technical Working Groups (TWG 1 & 2) for the purpose of guiding the Commission in the selection of the most appropriate and suitable DTT standard, and upon the recommendation of the majority stakeholders of the television broadcast industry, including the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), as to the specific standard to be adopted, the Commission hereby issues this Memorandum Circular adopting the standard for digital terrestrial television (DTT) broadcast service:

Section 1. Definition of Terms

Section 1.1. Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) – An implementation of the digital technology in the television service intended to provide a greater number of channels (i.e., SDTV) and/or better quality of picture (i.e., HDTV) and sound (i.e., AC3, Dolby Digital) through a conventional aerial antenna instead of a satellite or cable connection.

Section 1.2.      Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) – is a flexible digital television (DTV) transmission system that is capable of providing 3 level of hierarchical modulation (audio, video and data services) to fixed, mobile and handheld terminals without the need for an additional transmission facility.

 

Section 2. The Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) standard shall be the sole standard in the delivery of DTT services in the country.

 

Section 3. For the purpose of drafting the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) and Frequency Planning for the implementation hereof, the Commission shall immediately convene a Technical Working Group - IRR (TWG-IRR).

Section 4. Any Circular, Order or Memorandum or parts thereof inconsistent herewith are deemed superseded and/or amended accordingly.

Section 5. This Circular shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation and three (3) certified true copies furnished the UP Law Center.

Quezon City, Philippines, 11 June 2010.

GAMALIEL A. CORDOBA Commissioner
D. MICHAEL N. MALLILLIN Deputy Commissioner	JAIME M. FORTES, JR. Deputy Commissioner

ABS-CBN News: Japanese standard favored in planned shift to digital TV

MANILA, Philippines - Regulators are leaning toward the Japanese standard for digital television, releasing a draft circular yesterday recommending the adoption of the Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial or ISDB-T system.

The move is in line with the positions taken by the country’s top television networks, ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. and GMA Network, Inc., which have expressed preference for the Japanese standard -- which is being widely adopted in South America -- over a European one. Japanese makers of set-top boxes that will be required for non-digital TVs have pledged to put up a manufacturing plant here to cut prices.

The draft circular adopting the Japanese standard for Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcast Services will undergo public hearings starting today.

The National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC) draft order was made following recommendations from two technical groups and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas.
"The introduction of digital technology in the broadcasting service would ensure the competitiveness of the broadcast industry and afford them the opportunity to provide enhanced services to better serve the viewing public," the draft circular states.

The government is eyeing a switch to digital TV by 2015.

In 2006, the NTC released a memorandum saying the country would be using the European standard for digital television. The NTC later deferred this, saying more consultations were needed.

A key issue is whether the government will subsidize the cost of set-top boxes. - Business World, dated 11 June 2010, 06:28 PM.

Source: ABS-CBN News

Digital TV News: Philippines adopts ISDB-T for DTT

QUEZON CITY, Philippines — The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) of the Philippines has issued a Memorandum Circular today announcing that the Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) standard shall be the sole standard in the delivery of DTT services in the country.

For the purpose of drafting the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) and Frequency Planning for the implementation hereof, the Commission shall immediately convene a Technical Working Group – IRR (TWG-IRR). - dated 11 June 2010.

Attached: NTC Memorandum Circular 02_06_2010

Source: Digital TV News

Inquirer: NTC chooses Japan digital TV standard for RP

Finally, the Japanese standard Integrated Services for Digital Broadcast (ISDB-T) was unanimously chosen over the European DVB-T just before the 112th PHL Independence Day.

Read the article after a short break.

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has chosen the Japanese digital television standards for the Philippines after more than two years of deliberations, paving the way for the shift from the “primitive” analog broadcast system to the new and more efficient technology.

NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba and Deputy Commissioners Douglas Michael Mallillin and Jaime Fortes have signed a draft circular mandating the adoption in the country of the Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) television standards, the broadcast technology developed and used in Japan.

The draft circular, which was released Thursday, was signed and made into an official memorandum following a hearing with industry stakeholders, where no objections were raised.
“The ISDB-T standard shall be the sole standard in the delivery of digital terrestrial television services in the country,” the regulator said in its circular.

The NTC chose the Japanese standard over the European digital TV standards, which were determined to be more expensive if used in the Philippines.

The NTC said shifting to digital TV from the current analog system would allow for more channels, better video and audio quality and the delivery of high-definition content through a conventional aerial antenna instead of a satellite or cable connection.

“The ISDB-T is a flexible digital TV transmission system that is capable of providing three hierarchical modulations to fixed, mobile and handheld terminals without the need for an additional transmission frequency,” the NTC said.

The new standard was endorsed by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), the umbrella organization representing almost all local broadcasters in the country.

GMA Network Inc., which is not a KBP member, also endorsed the adoption of the new system through a letter sent to NTC.

“We have assessed the prominent digital TV standards available and have determined ISDB-T to be technically suitable for our television broadcast industry,” GMA Network said.

Once TV stations start sending digital signals, households that use old analog television sets would have to buy “set-top” boxes, which will process the digital signals. But most new television sets being sold today are digital-ready and will not need any new equipment to be able to display digital content.

The government has mandated a complete shift to digital TV in the country by 2015. - Paolo Montecillo, dated 11 June 2010, 07:26 PM.

Source: Inquirer

Philippine Star: PLDT eyes Japanese technology for digital TV

MANILA, Philippines - Telecommunications leader Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) is favoring the use of Japanese technology as platform for its digital television venture, a top company official said.

“ISDB-T is a good technology,” PLDT unit Mediaquest Holdings president Ray Espinosa said, adding that this Japanese platform is cheaper than those from other countries.

He said PLDT is inclined to adopting Japan’s integrated services digital broadcasting technology (ISDB-T) over Europe’s digital video broadcast technology for PLDT-owned Associated Broadcasting Corp. (TV5) as well as for the possible rollout of mobile TV by Mediaquest.
But he stressed that the PLDT Group’s shift to Japanese standard has nothing to do with the suspension of operations of MyTV, which used the European digital TV platform.

MyTV’s suspension was due to non-renewal by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) of the free trial permit earlier given to a unit of Mediaquest.

Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) chairman Ray Anthony Roxas Chua earlier said the initial deadline of 2015 for the country’s transition from analog TV to digital TV might be difficult to achieve. “It might have to be moved,” he added.

Digital TV uses a more efficient transmission technology that allows TV stations to offer improved picture and sound quality, as well as offer more programming options through multiple digital sub-channels (multicasting).

The country is still torn between the European and Japanese standards after representatives from both continuously offered varying price quotes and assistance to the government, making it harder for CICT to choose its preferred platform.

DVB-T, which was introduced in 1998, is the digital platform used in 121 countries, including France, India and Taiwan. ISDB-T, launched in 2003, is in use in Japan, Brazil and Peru.

DVB-T offered set-top boxes that cost between $13 and $14 per unit, while ISDB-T quoted a factory price of $12 from the last year’s offer of around $40 to $50.

Leading broadcast companies ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. and GMA Network Inc. have earlier said they are leaning towards the Japanese standard after its proponents have lowered the price of set-top boxes.

In the United States, full-power analog TV broadcasts were required by law to end in 2009. But since March 1, 2007, all new television devices that receive signals over-the-air, including pocket-sized portable televisions, personal computer video capture card tuners and DVD recorders, have been required to include digital ATSC tuners. - Mary Ann Ll. Reyes, dated 4 June 2010, 12:00 AM.

Source: Philippine Star