Inquirer: NTC orders review of digital TV standard

MANILA, Philippines—The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has ordered a review of the standards to be used for the country’s shift to digital television broadcasting technology.

NTC Deputy Commissioner Carlo Jose Martinez said the regulator was considering the adoption of a new technology, the second-generation Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB2) from Europe, to replace the Japanese Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting (ISDB) standard.

DVB2 has been touted by industry experts as superior to the ISDB platform from Japan, which was chosen over the first generation DVB standard.

“In the advent of the new technology, we want to have a review to see if the DVB2 is superior to the ISDB,” he said in an earlier interview.

All TV networks earlier expressed support for the ISDB standard. But GMA Network Inc., one of the country’s leading television stations, recently said a review might be warranted given the development of the more advanced DVB2.

Associated Broadcasting Corp. (ABC), operator of TV5, has also said the government should take a second look at other technologies other than the ISDB.

The ISDB standard was chosen over the DVB platform last year, mainly due to the lower prices of set-top boxes offered by Japanese companies. These devices are needed to convert digital signals into viewable images.

The benefits of digital TV include the more efficient use of broadcast frequencies to allow more data to be transmitted. Once digital TV is adopted in the Philippines, high-definition programming will be broadcast on free-to-air networks instead of through cables for a fee.

The committee formed by the NTC is expected to complete its review and come up with its findings in two months. The review will run simultaneously with the work of the technical working group (TWG), which is formulating the specific rules for the rollout of digital TV.

The TWG is made up of representatives from the private sector and the NTC.

Association of Broadcast Electronics Practitioners vice president Armand Ursal said reports from overseas showed that Europe’s DVB2 standard could send more data using much less power than required when using the Japanese standard.

“What we hear is that it’s superior and more beneficial to the public,” Ursal said, but admitted that more would have to be conducted. - Paolo Montecillo, dated 27 March 2011, 10:03 PM.

Source: Inquirer

ABS-CBN News: Japan ready to help ‘digitize’ Philippine TV networks

MANILA, Philippines - Japan is ready to give the state-run National Broadcasting Network (Channel 4) a $4-million (P174.8-million) grant to help it shift to digital television.

Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), announcing this, said Japan said was ready to extend the similar soft loans to other broadcasting firms for the same purpose.

The NTC said it would take some time yet before the full digitation of television—which would make obsolete the currently used analog television sets—is realized.

Cordoba said the Japan grant would be spent to buy transmitters, antennas and the like. “Japan just wants to help,” he said.

He said Japan was awaiting the signing of the memorandum of cooperation that would formalize the Philippines’ intent” to adapt Japan’s Integrated Services Digital Broadcast (ISDB) technology as the standard for digital TV.

The implementing rules of the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) broadcast service in the country will be released in June.

The draft cooperation agreement has been circulated to other government agencies, including the National Economic and Development Authority, for their inputs, Cordoba said.

Under the draft rules, Japan expressed willingness to financially assist Philippine broadcasting firms through attractive financial packages to help them cope with their investment in digital TV. No amount was set, however. “It depends on how big the network is but the terms are very relaxed. They will provide financial assistance even to government-owned TV stations,” said Cordoba.

The NTC chief also said that Japan has lowered the price of set-top boxes to $10.98 each; the actual cost, when purchased by a consumer, could be higher. “ There will be freight costs to be shouldered by the importer,” said the NTC chief.

When DTT technology will be enforced in the country, all analog TV handsets would be rendered obsolete unless connected to a set-top box.

Depending on the demand, Japan is willing to manufacture set-top boxes here so these could be sold at cheaper prices. At the same time, this could provide job opportunities to Filipinos.

“But for now, Sharp Philippines and Eagle World of China have expressed interest tin manufacturing the boxes in the Philippines so that Filipinos can buy them and even the digital TV units at cheaper price,” Cordoba said.

The NTC plans to start implementing digital-television service in select cities by 2012. It wants the shift to be implemented in phases, the same way Japan did, NTC Deputy Commissioner Carlo Jose Martinez said.

“We plan to follow Japan’s model. They started with Tokyo then Osaka, followed by other major cities. The TWG [technical working group] has yet to identify which cities would start the digital TV shift but maybe we could start with Manila, Cebu, Davao,” he said.

Martinez could not provide the timetable for the analog TV broadcast termination but said it won’t be soon—or not in 2015 which was the year previously identified by the NTC administration.

“Japan was able to shut off its analog [broadcasts] after nine to 10 years upon the introduction of digital TV. So it would probably be the same here. The consumers will be our basis as to when the shutdown will take effect,” he said.

Japan’s ISDB-T platform is expected to provide more business opportunities because the bandwidth that will be assigned for digital TV can also be used to service mobile phones. The technology is also capable of sending emergency warning broadcasts to households. - Lenie Lectura, Business Mirror, dated 22 March 2011, 11:20 AM.

Source: ABS-CBN News

I.T. Matters: Shift to Japanese digital TV standard by April delayed?

We're just really eager to start experiencing the world of digital TV, but still, NTC delays the release of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for digital TV broadcast, which is dated to be finished this April. This delay is caused by the favored review of GMA Network with the new DTV standard of Europe, the DVB-T2, which they claim is more superior than the chosen Japanese ISDB-T standard.

Read the article after the jump.

THE PLANNED shift to Japanese digital television standard for broadcasting may not push through by April with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) now mulling whether to take a second look at the upgraded European standard.

This comes after broadcaster GMA Network, Inc. and the House Committee on Information and Communication Technology “encouraged” the state agency to again review which digital TV standard to adopt, NTC Commissioner Gamaliel A. Cordoba said in a text message yesterday.

“We’re already studying the two proposals. We’ll make an announcement within the next two weeks [if we will be reviewing or not],” Mr. Cordoba said.

“In case a review is made, it will be a quick one — maybe a maximum of two months in process,” Mr. Cordoba added.

Plans to issue implementing rules for the shift to the Japanese standard by April may thus be scuttled as the NTC could instead publish a draft that is “technology-neutral” in the meantime.

This may overturn the decision made in June last year when NTC, following unanimous industry support, selected the Japanese Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) standard as the country’s digital television platform over the European Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) technology.

The decision last year to adopt the ISDB-T standard was reached in a meeting of stakeholders from the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, GMA Network, Inc., ABS-CBN Corp., RPN Channel 9, and Vanguard Radio Network Co., Inc., among others.

Representatives from the Japanese embassy and NTC officials went on to sign a memorandum of cooperation. Japanese makers of the set-top boxes required for non-digital TV sets were said to have committed to build a manufacturing plant in the Philippines to help cut prices.

But last month, GMA Network president Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr. told reporters that the government should reconsider its decision to pick the Japanese standard, saying the European DVB2 technology has better quality.

The Philippines is aiming to complete the shift to digital TV by 2015. After NTC issues the IRR for the digital TV standard, broadcasting firms can start rolling out the digital signals alongside analog signals.

Aside from Japan, the ISDB-T has been widely adopted in South America. - Kathleen A. Martin, Business World, dated 20 March 2011, 10:16 PM.

Source: I.T. Matters

Manila Bulletin: More countries adopting digital TV signal

MANILA, Philippines — The country is slowly moving towards the adoption of the far superior digital television signal that is expected to revolutionize not only the viewing experience but also communication and education. 

At the 12th Annual International Congress of the Federation of International Cable TV Associations of the Philippines (FICAP) at the historic landmark Manila Hotel, National Telecommunications (NTC) deputy commissioner Carlos Jose Martinez said analog television transmission will soon be phased out as other countries adopt digital TV signals. 

“Analog TV transmission will be shut off in the future, around five years. Analog receivers and equipment will be eventually phased out. Hence, the country has to prepare for the migration to digital TV in the same manner TV networks need an upgrade to digital TV facilities,” Martinez pointed out. 

At the NTC, Martinez said “preparations are being done for the introduction of digital TV broadcasting service” as the Philippines aligns itself with other countries which have shifted from analog to digital. 

A number of countries including U.S, Japan and other European nations started to implement digital broadcasting. The U.S. terminated its analog TV services and its now broadcasting in full digital TV. In Southeast Asia, Singapore commenced it digital TV service. 

“Other countries are to follow suit by terminating their analog TV in the couple of years,” he explained. 

The FICAP gathering has adopted the theme “Think Big, Grow Big, Go Digital,” underlying the group’s current push in switching from analog to digital TV signal by 2015. FICAP has around 800 members nationwide and more than 200 affiliates. 

FICAP national chair Estrellita Juliano-Tamano said the objective of the group is for all cable operators in the country to go to digital. - Raymund F. Antonio, dated 2 March 2011, 8:17 PM.

Source: Manila Bulletin

Manila Bulletin: More countries adopting digital TV signal

MANILA, Philippines — The country is slowly moving towards the adoption of the far superior digital television signal that is expected to revolutionize not only the viewing experience but also communication and education.

At the 12th Annual International Congress of the Federation of International Cable TV Associations of the Philippines (FICAP) at the historic landmark Manila Hotel, National Telecommunications (NTC) deputy commissioner Carlos Jose Martinez said analog television transmission will soon be phased out as other countries adopt digital TV signals.

“Analog TV transmission will be shut off in the future, around five years. Analog receivers and equipment will be eventually phased out. Hence, the country has to prepare for the migration to digital TV in the same manner TV networks need an upgrade to digital TV facilities,” Martinez pointed out.

At the NTC, Martinez said “preparations are being done for the introduction of digital TV broadcasting service” as the Philippines aligns itself with other countries which have shifted from analog to digital.

A number of countries including U.S, Japan and other European nations started to implement digital broadcasting. The U.S. terminated its analog TV services and its now broadcasting in full digital TV. In 

Southeast Asia, Singapore commenced it digital TV service.

“Other countries are to follow suit by terminating their analog TV in the couple of years,” he explained.

The FICAP gathering has adopted the theme “Think Big, Grow Big, Go Digital,” underlying the group’s current push in switching from analog to digital TV signal by 2015. FICAP has around 800 members nationwide and more than 200 affiliates.

FICAP national chair Estrellita Juliano-Tamano said the objective of the group is for all cable operators in the country to go to digital. - Raymund F. Antonio, dated 2 March 2011, 08:17 PM.

Source: Manila Bulletin

Business Insight Malaya: Digital TV migration system still hangs in the balance

Five years from now, the Philippines expects to migrate from analog to digital terrestrial television (DTT) which will bring major changes in the television landscape. This will require all Filipinos to buy the digital ready television or set top boxes to allow them use their TV.

The DTT allows the broadcast network to deliver multiple programs on single channel, using one transmitter, so consumers can watch the programs earlier aired at their own time. This will also pave the way for the introduction of the mobile TV services, allowing users to watch their TV program via phone.

The Commission on Information and Communication Technology (CICT) has given the signal to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to meet the technical working group (TWG) composed of stakeholders of the television broadcast industry, including the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), for the formulation of the implementing rules and regulation for DTT.

In an interview, Gamaliel Cordoba, NTC commissioner, said that they are looking at 2015 or 2016 as the migration period for DTT. The IRR is likely to be issued in April this year.

Although the NTC has chosen the Japan’s Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) as the country’s standard for DTT under Memorandum Circular No. 02-06-2010 issued last year, the telecom regulator has yet to sign the contract with the Japan, Cordoba said.
"We don’t have yet formal agreement with the Japanese," Cordoba said. The Japanese proponent plans to put up a manufacturing plant for set up boxes which will give employment to Filipinos.

Aside from the technical support and expertise and the proposed construction of manufacturing plant for set up boxes, Cordoba said that they also want to ask financial assistance from the Japanese government for the roll out of DTT.

For now, Cordoba said that they want to pursue the Japanese standard but they want to add new terms in the proposed MOU.

Japan standard over the European

In an exclusive interview with Motohiko Kato, deputy and chief of mission of the Embassy of Japan, explained the advantages of the Japanese standard over the European standard.

Among the advantages, he said, are the efficient frequency utilitization and mobile TV services, emergency warning broadcasting system, cheap prices of set top box, wider coverage area and clear image. The royalty is also free, Kato said.

He explained that once the Japanese standard is finally chosen, it will be easier for the broadcast firm to roll out mobile television services using the same transmitter in digital TV, unlike with the European system where the broadcast network would need to set up another transmitter for mobile TV.

The mobile TV services is expected to become a huge potential business opportunity for the telecom and broadcast firms. "Mobile is a huge potential to create a lot of new business and services," Kato added.

The proposed price of a set up box is pegged at $ 10 per box under the Japanese system. Kato said the price is expected to become even lower when the demand for the product is high and there’s a lot of competition in the market.

"We’re not expecting the kind of revenues (from royalty fee). It’s a kind of national pride if our system will be used, we’re quite happy. Of course Japan will also bring business opportunities to other countries like Korea, China," he said.

Japan will also send technical expertise and invite Filipino technicians to study in their country. They are also ready to provide the necessary equipment for the migration, but the subsidy should come from the Philippine government, Kato said.

Japan’s full migration to DTT is scheduled in July this year.

Kato added that the Japanese system coverage is 20 percent better than the European. Among the countries using the Japan system include Uruguay, Bolivia, Paraguay, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Venezuela, Chile, and Brazil.

But globally, the European system is more widely used. It is used by more than 120 countries, of which 21 are European countries. In Asia those using the European system include Sri Lanka, India and Taiwan.

Broadcast Industry feedback

The country’s three broadcast firms are ready to migrate to digital terrestrial television anytime. GMA network said it would spend up to P600 million for the migration and ABS-CBN about P1 billion. TV5 has yet to disclose its investment on DTT but it said that it is ready any time it is given the go-signal to roll out.

Ray Espinosa, ABC Broadcasting Corp. president, said that their technology is "neutral" on whatever system is eventually adopted. A more serious concern, he said, are the consumers who will have to pay for the set top boxes

"We have to think of the consumers, because television is public service. they have to take into account the consumers," Espinosa said. - Myla Iglesias, dated 1 March 2011.

Source: Business Insight Malaya

Manila Bulletin: ISDB-T is the right choice

Manila Bulletin made an article about how ISDB-T stands as the best choice of PHL to be its digital TV standard against the European DVB-T2, which was being reconsidered to NTC by GMA Network few weeks ago.

MANILA, Philippines - A few weeks back, a suggestion was made to reconsider NTC’s decision on what standard should be implemented as our country makes its switch from analog to digital broadcast on December 2015.  This is in line with the emergence of an updated European standard, the DVB-T2.

As of June 2010, the Japanese standard Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting – Terrestial or the ISDB-T  was the preferred choice of the NTC and most of the key players in the broadcasting world.  At that time, it was a choice  between the European standard, DVB-T and the Japanese standard, ISDB-T.

Caesar Villadiego of Net 25 was part of the Technical Working Group tapped by NTC to evaluate which standard to use for digital TV broadcast and as such, he said that, “ISDB-T was chosen because of its technical advantages”.  He said that their group did a test broadcast first for DVB-T then followed by the ISDB-T.  The results showed that ISDB-T is superior over the other.  Based on their field tests using the same specifications as to equipment, transmitter, power, etc., ISDB-T has farther coverage with maintained stable signal. 

The results were not at all surprising because as shared to us by Motohiko Kato, Consul General of Japan in the Philippines, same results were extracted when the Chilean government conducted their own comparative test saying that ISDB-T has a larger coverage area than the DVB-T.  They also cited that ISDB-T’s reception is better given a larger coverage area under the same transmitter condition and power.  Also, images do appear clearer and robust in ISDB-T because of its “Time Interleave Technology” that can withstand noise.  While it is true that errors do occur because of radio interference, with ISDB-T data is reconstructed and errors are corrected.   

Aside from better reception and wider coverage area, Caesar Villadiego also cited “value added services” like mobile TV and data casting or interactivityc that were not available in DVB-T.  In one channel bandwidth, ISDB-T can utilize and accommodate a combination of HDTV/SDTV/Mobile TV (one-seg).  In DVB-T, you will need another transmitter to accommodate mobile TV.  Motohiko Kato gave us specifics of these “added features” starting off with free TV service either portable or mobile.  With ISDB-T people can watch TV anytime, anywhere for free or at a very low cost.  ISDB-T will also provide Emergency Warning Broadcasting System especially for harsh weather conditions like typhoons and natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis.  People can get emergency warning through their TV sets and mobile phones.  ISDB-T can endure disasters and mobile network congestion. Rest assured, it will have continued service through its mobile TV in difficult times like these.

When asked what will be the probable resistance this transition will encounter, Caesar Villadiego said that for the broadcasters, it will probably be the investment each network would have to make.  But then again, with ISDB-T it is definitely more cost-effective because broadcasters won’t need additional transmitters to have the added services mentioned above.  Another would probably be the purchase of a “set-top box”.  Digital TV transmission is received with the use of a “set-top box” that will be plugged to the user’s existing analog TV.  For this, Japan assured of providing us with cheap and affordable set-top boxes.

In summary, even if what others say may be true that DVB-T has further developed a better standard  compared to its previous in terms of quality, DVB-T2 still lacked the “added services” rendering the Japanese standard a better choice and definitely more suited to the needs and lifestyle of the Filipino people.   

The government should be firm on the decision made last year.  Reconsideration of a newer technology is indeed logical and truly understandable but given the target date of 2015, a reconsideration is a step further back in achieving its goals.  Remember, planning and transition alone takes time. Reconsideration and review would surely delay implementation. If they don’t decide now, a few months from now a newer technology will again emerge.  Till then do they need to review or reconsider again? - Len Amadora, dated 1 March 2011, 10:00 AM.

Source: Manila Bulletin

Manila Bulletin: Are we ready for the big switch?

MANILA, Philippines - As early as 2006, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) had already released a memorandum regarding their decision for our country’s switch from analog to digital TV broadcast.  This switch is scheduled to take place on December 31, 2015.  Some of you may ask, why make a switch?  What is the difference?

Standard analog TV transmission is similar to radio transmission.  It consists of a video signal transmitted on AM radio waves and its video signal transmitted via FM waves.  These signals are sent over the air as “frequency and amplitude” modulation.  As such, analog TV is susceptible to interference.   It depends on the geographical location and how far the receiving TV is to the signal.  Hence, sometimes you will notice a blurry or “snow or ghosting” transmission.  With analog TV, image quality and resolution is restricted to the amount of bandwidth assigned to the TV channel.  It is quite noticeable also how different the color quality is from one channel to another.

DTV or digital TV, on the other hand, is the sending of audio and video by digital signals.  It is similar to how a computer data is transmitted.  Just like analog, digital is likewise transmitted over the air. It is however, conveyed through “bits” of information similar to that of a computer file.  “Ghosting” is eliminated in digital broadcast.  It is like an “all or none” deal.  The viewer either sees the video or sees nothing at all.  With the same bandwidth size as that of analog, digital TV can provide a higher quality image or even High Definition (HDTV) signal requiring less bandwidth space.  It can therefore permit more space for additional audio, video or text channels in the form of perhaps a surround sound, multiple language audio, etc.  It is also worth mentioning that digital TV can broadcast programs in “true widescreen” format (16 x 9).

When NTC  released its memorandum in 2006, they initially decided to use and adopt the DVB-T or Digital Video Broadcasting - Terrestrial for terrestrial transmission in the Philippines.  DVB-T is a European based standard for digital broadcast transmission.  Soon, a year after, NTC then made an announcement to reconsider other standards to replace DVB-T.  During that time, government-owned TV stations were already testing the ISDB-T.  Integrated Services Digital Broadcast – Terrestrial or ISDB-T is a Japanese-based standard and according to Digital Broadcasting Experts Group, it is the most advanced international standard on digital terrestrial television broadcasting. 

It started in Japan way back in December 2003 then Brazil followed soon after in December 2007.  Countries like Peru, Argentina, Chile, just to name a few, also adopted the technology. - Len Amadora, dated 1 March 2011, 9:53 AM.

Source: Manila Bulletin