Saturday, May 28, 2011

Manila Bulletin: Filipinos benefit from digital TV

MANILA, Philippines — The shift from analog to digital television will give Filipinos a better viewing experience with clearer images and sounds plus more choices on local channels, according to Television Committee of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) Chairman Atom Henares.
The move will also invigorate the broadcast industry to invest in new equipment to enable digital TV services and deliver more programs on different channels.
Free-TV or non-cable households comprise 90 percent of the total 17 million TV households in the country. With the new technology, each existing TV frequency in the country will be able to air up to eight free-TV channels each. This means the country could have 176 total channels from its existing 22 TV frequencies.
Analog TV was introduced in the country way back in 1953 but it was characterized by limited channel reception as well as poor quality of images and sounds.
In mid-2010, after four years of deliberating on which digital terrestrial TV (DTT) standard to adopt, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) decided that the Philippines will use the Japanese Integrated Services Digital Broadcast (ISDB).
Regulators target to come up with the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) on its nationwide adoption next month.
“It took a long time. Now, only a finalized IRR keeps us away from the technology that will revolutionize the way we broadcast,” Henares commented.
“Industry players have already invested in the new technology after the NTC circular last year. But we need the ground rules before we can convert to digital broadcast,” he said. - EVA, dated 28 May 2011, 01:36 PM.
Source: Manila Bulletin

Exclusive: ABS-CBN DTV Premium Channels in Free-Encrypted System

It seems like people are getting too much excited for the future of Philippine television a few months away from now. ABS-CBN, on its road to digital TV, is very prepared for the comeback of its launch, back in 2007. Today, they’re much ready to deploy its DTT service nationwide after almost five years of preparation, planning and organization of ideas to make the transition to digital television go faster than expected.

For now, the media conglomerate just awaits the NTC’s rules and regulation for digital TV broadcast standard, whether they go for the chosen one, or choose another new standard, but as soon as possible, ABS-CBN can implement, as we’ve said earlier, which of which standard, either of the two being reviewed by the governing body.

People are craving for its deployment, also for what those five new channels would be. According to the press launch of the network last April, they will spread those channels being categorized according to family’s needs; what mothers and fathers do like, as well as the youth and kids. Basically, we’re thinking of ABS-CBN’s cable channels via Creative Programs Inc. (CPI) being shown on cable TV providers.

Beforehand, the network plumped for conditional access system for the package of the DTV Digibox. This will be tagged as free-encrypted channels; free as in free-to-air, but encrypted for ABS-CBN’s digital TV set top boxes. We’ve been expecting for this one, since the market will be their priority at first. But again, ABS-CBN deals people to buy the box for one-time fee, and enjoy those premium channels for a lifetime, unlike cable subscriptions that do have to be paid monthly.

With this, ABS-CBN also opens up a new market and strategy for offering add-ons. Through encryption system, the network also has plans to go with pay-per-view channels whenever you want to watch 24/7 programs or even premium worldwide hit events. Conversely, we’re much worried for the encryption system of TV networks in the future. Let’s say GMA Network will also go premium, too, as well as TV5 and other networks. Do all networks have a standard for the encryption system, or they will be outsourcing different from one another? As we always say, NTC has the last words for this.

Back to those premium or free-encrypted channels, what exactly are those? Well, sources from people who do have been chosen by the network from the current DTV tests in Central Luzon claims those five were ANC, Hero TV, CgeTV, Knowledge Channel and Myx. But the official deployment of DTT service by ABS-CBN will not include those five, except Knowledge Channel, which is publicly stated a year ago it will be part of the future digital TV service.

Exclusively speaking, ABS-CBN will be having a news channel for dads, a movie channel for moms, a music channel for the youth, and a cartoon/anime channel, as well as educational channel (Knowledge Channel) for the kids. We’ll spill it out for you guys, but still we shouldn’t market it all, for ABS to tell it officially what those are in the next months. Let your minds guess, but two of them are new and three will go free-to-air.

Note: The views and opinions of DTV Pilipinas do not reflect any of those corporate affiliations stated in this article. This is still subjected to change without prior notice.


Friday, May 27, 2011

ABS-CBN News: KBP to NTC: No delay on IRR of digital broadcast

 
Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas hits the National Telecomunications Commission on releasing the Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) for digital free TV broadcast, which in the previous months, being tentatively finalized this coming June.
MANILA, Philippines - The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) was prompted on Thursday not to delay the issuance of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) that will usher the country’s transition from analog to digital free broadcast television.
In a statement, the Television Committee of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) said the IRR serves as a guide to the conversion of analog TV to digital. Without the rules, industry players could not fully start the shift to digital TV, the statement added.
For now, industry players are preparing for the new technology but “they will need the ground rules before they can convert to digital broadcast,” said Atom Henares, committee chairman.
“The shift to digital will not only give Filipinos a better viewing experience with superior clarity in image and sound, but also more choices on free-to-air tv,” he added.
Free broadcast TV, or noncable households, comprise 90 percent of the total 17-million TV households in the country. With digital TV, each existing TV frequency in the country will be able to air up to eight free-TV channels each. This means the country could have 176 total channels from its existing 22 TV frequencies.
The NTC decided in the middle of last year that the Philippines will use the Japanese Integrated Services Digital Broadcast and targets to come up with the IRR on its nationwide adoption next month. - Lenie Lectura, Business Mirror, dated 27 May 2011, 07:48 AM.
Source: ABS-CBN News

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Thank you, Samsung Philippines!


 As of this writing, Devant brand claimed the very first ISDB-T-compliant TV to be sold in the Philippine market. We've seen some of the items and it looks perfectly receiving free-to-air HD signals via GEM HD and those 3 subchannels from NBN.



But other brands also have those digital TV-ready items being sold particularly in major appliance stores in malls, but with different DTV standard, which is not compelling with the Philippine DTT broadcast standard. With this, we've been trying to contact those major TV brand manufacturers on reselling those LCD and LED TVs with built-in ISDB-T tuners which comes from Japan and Brazil.

Apparently, Samsung Philippines just replied to our letter:

Greetings!

Hello, we are DTV Pilipinas, the only online organization of information about the Philippines' transition to digital television. We would like to clarify to your kind office that the country will be using the Japanese DTV standard ISDB-T, instead of the European DVB-T and DVB-T2. As we've browsed your products especially those LCD and LED TVs being sold out on the Philippine market, we've seen such products still incorporated with DVB-T tuners.


With this, we would like to ask for your good office that you should also sell those televisions with ISDB-T tuners, just like in Brazil, which has the ISDB-T International standard. People should now be aware of the upcoming analog shut-off and also aware of buying new LCD TVs with DTV tuners instead of buying another set top box for them to receive digital channels on-air.


Thanks and God bless.
 And here is their answer:
Thank you for contacting Samsung Philippines.

Please allow us to endorse your feedback to our technical head.

Thank you for supporting Samsung Products. Should you have further
inquiries, please feel free to contact us at 1-800-10-7267864. We will
be glad to be at your service!

Please do not reply back to this email message as this email address is
used for outbound messages only.

Sincerely,

Samsung Philippines
We're looking forward for them selling those premium items of Samsung maybe next year. But for now, we should first knock on NTC's doors to fasten up the debate for the final DTT standard for the Philippines.

P.S. I hope it shouldn't be a computer-generated message. Fail.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

DTV Pilipinas Android App Available


Well, we're going with the flow, guys. With the use of AppsGeyser, we have made our DTV Pilipinas Android App connected with our Blogspot web link for mobile use. You can now connect to us, receive the latest and freshest news and updates on the digital world of television in the Philippines, plus the remarkable articles and infopics made by the admins of DTV Pilipinas, all in one Android app.

To download our beta version, just click this one >> DOWNLOAD.

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Friday, May 20, 2011

Manila Standard Today: Digital TV review backed

ABS-CBN, GMA Network and TV5 now backing up with the review of the National Telecommunications Commission for the better standard they think that will suit the needs of the Filipinos. Read the post after the break.
The country’s top broadcasting companies have backed government’s review of the digital TV standard, saying the move will test the superiority of the Japanese technology over the newer version of the European digital TV platform.
The broadcasting firms said they were willing to delay the rollout of digital TV provided the technology to be used is proven to be the best among those that are available.
“Yes, we support the review because we only want the best standard. That’s a long-term decision that will affect not just the present but the future operations,” GMA Network chairman and chief executive Felipe Gozon told reporters at the sidelines of the stockholders’ meeting on Wednesday.
He said it was difficult for the TV networks to start acquiring equipment in preparation for the country’s transition to digital TV if the government had not come up with a final decision yet.
“Supposed the NTC comes out with a European standard and we have the Japanese, that’s a problem,” Gozon said.
TV5 president and chief executive Ray Espinosa said in a text message that the network also supported a review of the standard.
“We have informed the NTC that we would like to test the new version of the European standard and do comparative trials with the Japanese standard,” he said.
“Our preference for the standard will be dictated by costs and efficiencies,” Espinosa added.
ABS-CBN Corp. spokesman Ramon Osorio said in a text message that the TV network “will support whatever will be beneficial for the digital TV initiative and the Filipino viewing public.”
Malacañang ordered the regulator to consider the newer version of European’s digital video broadcasting technology.
“We are reviewing DVB-T2 simultaneously with the drafting of digital TV rules [under a Japanese platform],” NTC deputy commissioner Carlo Juan Martinez told the Manila Standard earlier.
The NTC in June last year issued a circular adopting Japan’s integrated services digital broadcasting technology as the Philippines’ official digital TV platform.
Martinez said it was likely that NTC would delay the rules because the team reviewing DVB-T2 was part of the technical working group drafting the digital TV regulations on the use of the Japanese platform. - Jeremiah F. de Guzman, dated 19 May 2011, 07:27 PM.
Source: Manila Standard Today

Business World: Envoy urges adoption of digital TV standard

ADOPTION of a Japanese digital television standard was pushed by Tokyo’s envoy to the Philippines yesterday as regulators continued to hold off from issuing a final recommendation. 

Japanese Ambassador Toshinao Urabe made the request during a courtesy call and President Benigno Simeon S. C. Aquino III promised a thorough study, Palace spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said.
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), which last year said the country would adopt Japan’s Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) standard, is again reviewing its options after Malacañang earlier this year ordered a review.
One of the competing standards being considered is Europe’s Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T2) technology.
"The Philippine government through the DoST (Department of Science and Technology) and NTC is studying the full review and process of selecting the DTTB (digital terrestrial TV broadcasting) standard to be implemented, and to look into the long-term cost of ownership of the set-up boxes," Mr. Lacierda said during a Palace briefing.
Asked if the Japanese ambassador’s request would bear on the government’s final decision, Mr. Lacierda said the NTC’s recommendation would hold sway.
"The President made no concessions to anyone, and I would assume that even if the European Union would come in and ask, it would be the same," he told BusinessWorld.
NTC officials were not immediately available for comment. - J. D. Poblete, dated 19 May 2011, 11:11 PM.
Source: Business World

Thursday, May 19, 2011

The Manila Times: ABS-CBN to roll out digital TV in June

Despite the urgent catious remarks from GMA Network to the National Telecommunications Commission, ABS-CBN will still stand up to use the unanimously-favored Japanese ISDB-T.

With this, they will now start to deploy DTV Digiboxes, the set top box branding of the network, on June, after the NTC finalizes the regulations on DTT broadcast.

Meanwhile, TV5, under the ABC Development Corp and MediaQuest, is very ready for the network's deployment of the ISDB-T digital TV system.

NBN, the government's flagship TV network, is now transmitting digital TV broadcast under the UHF channel 48 and being granted millions of dollars for the most sophisticated digital TV facility.

Read the article after the break.

ABS-CBN Corp. on Monday said it is “ready” to roll out digital TV in June using the Japanese platform, warning regulators that changing the standard may cause delays. 
“We are ready to deploy regardless of the standard, but it would have caused delays if the NTC [National Telecommunications Commission] changes the standard,” Miguel Mercado, vice president of ABS-CBN Marketing said.
“We will launch the service to viewers once the NTC releases the implementing rules and regulations in June,” Mercado said. 
“Initially, we will rollout the digital boxes in Luzon and Visayas and Mindanao in the next few years,” he said. 
This Digibox will serve as the viewer’s gateway to enjoying new channels that ABS-CBN has developed to cater to preferences of different market segments. Mercado said the cost of the digital boxes is between P1,000 and P3,000. 
“But, we are working with several manufacturers to develop a cheap digibox,” he said. 
The executive said the company’s target market are people who do not have cable TV or the [Class] D income households, which comprises 90 percent of the population. 
“The new channels to be made available include two channels for kids, a channel for the youth, a channel for dads and a channel for moms,” Mercado said. 
“Viewers will also get to enjoy five new channels for free. These are in addition to getting all existing channels that will be broadcasting in digital, which upon our launch will include Channel 2, Studio 23, GEM TV and NBN. Once the NTC gives a go signal we are sure that the other stations will be ready to broadcast their current channels on DTV as well,” he added.
The country originally planned to migrate from analog to digital TV in 2015. 
In June last year, the NTC issued a memorandum circular mandating the use of Japan’s standard, or the Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial (ISDB-T). 
But recently the regulator said its technical working group (TWG) is reviewing the European Digital Video Broadcast-Handheld (DVB-T) standard because of the new technology from Europe called DVB2. 
GMA Network Inc. is the most vocal in urging the NTC to review the standard because of the new technology from Europe, which is more advanced than the Japanese platform.
The National Broadcasting Network (NBN) also is converting its facilities to digital TV using the Japanese platform. The state-owned network has received a $4-million grant from the Japanese government to shift to digital TV. 
ABC Development Corp., the operator of TV5 earlier said the company is ready to roll out digital TV using the Japanese platform. 
Since 2007, ABS-CBN has been laying the groundwork for this new technology. Recently, the company conducted trials in more than 1,000 households all over the Philippines. 
ABS-CBN shares shed 40 centavos to close at P42 apiece on Monday. - Darwin G. Amolejar, dated 19 May 2011.
Source: Manila Times 

Philippine Star: GMA Network cautions NTC about digital TV technology

Like the title says itself, GMA Network is very eager to push through the DVB-T2 standard for the digital terrestrial TV broadcast. Just like ABS-CBN which also has the hybrid set-up posted last week, GMA also housed Japanese and European-based DTV networks in their facility.

And they just admonished the National Telecommunications Commission, the regulatory body working out for the digital TV broadcast, to "go slow" with the finalization and implementation of digital TV in the Philippines.

Read the article after the break.

MANILA, Philippines -  GMA Network is urging the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to carefully consider what digital television transmission technology to adopt and when to require its adoption by local broadcasting companies due to the far-reaching repercussions of a bad choice.
In an interview, GMA chairman and CEO Felipe Gozon also revealed they expect higher revenues this year compared to last year. The company has also budgeted P750 million for capital expenditures this year.
Gozon said he expects the 2015 deadline for the shift by local broadcasting companies from analog to digital transmission to be pushed back since the review by the NTC and other government agencies is still ongoing.
The NTC earlier revealed that it may support the adoption of the Japanese digital technology instead of its European counterpart, but has yet to come up with the rules governing digital technology.
Gozon earlier said that while the network that they have installed can support either the Japanese or European version, he said the NTC should choose only the best standard. “Once you choose the standard, it is very difficult to change,” he pointed out.
He also advised the NTC to go slow on digitization, noting that even countries like the United States took a long time before mandating a complete shift from analog to digital considering the huge expenses that broadcasting companies will have to shell out. “It’s a very expensive proposition because even the television sets will have to be digital ready. And how many Filipinos can afford digital-ready TV sets,” he said.
The US government originally set a 1996 deadline for digitization, but it was only 10 years later that the move finally pushed through.
“We have to choose the best, the better of these standards…because that’s a long term decision that will affect not only the present but the future operation.
And secondly, it’s the readiness of the public, even if we are ready and the viewers are not yet ready, so we have balance and calibrate everything,” he added.
Meanwhile, he said their April revenues are good, “but May is really fantastic.” “We are over P1 billion in TV sales for Channel 7 alone so far, and this is not even an election year,” Gozon added.
He explained that GMA’s revenues suffered a setback last year due to the increase in advertising rates by the network. “We had to increase the rates. The advertisers reacted. Everytime you increase the prices, that’s the reaction. But they came back to us,” he said. - Mary Ann L. Reyes, dated 19 May 2011, 12:00 AM
Source: Philippine Star

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Business World: NTC to finalize digital TV broadcast standard by June

Well it is for the NTC to decide which digital TV standard is going to suit the needs of every Filipino viewer, expect the rules to set on the end of June 2011.


THE NATIONAL Telecommunications Commission (NTC) hopes to finalize by end-June a review on which digital television standard to adopt, its top official said yesterday.

"The review is ongoing and we’re hoping to complete it in one and a half months from today," Commissioner Gamaliel A. Cordoba said in a telephone interview.

In June last year, NTC, following unanimous industry support, decided to adopt 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.

However, in March this year, the House Committee on Information and Communication Technology encouraged a review of which standard to adopt, since the upgraded European standard (DVB-2) was not considered last year.

"So the outcome will be either we stick to the Japanese standard or we will adopt the new European standard," Mr. Cordoba said.

Despite admitting a "slow rate" in the country’s shift to digital TV, GMA Network, Inc. supports the review of which standard to adopt, Felipe L. Gozon, chairman and chief executive officer, told reporters yesterday.
"Yes, [we support the review] because we only want the best standard [for the country]...that’s a long-term decision that will affect not only the present but the future operation," he said after his firm’s annual stockholders meeting.

"[The shift to digital TV] is very slow [but] even in the US and in other countries, it took them some time before they were able to convert," Mr. Gozon said.

Mr. Gozon said that the firm is waiting for NTC’s decision on which standard to adopt as the broadcaster cannot, at present, roll out plans without it.

Already, the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the country’s switch to digital television is eyed to be finished within the month, or next month at the latest, Mr. Cordoba said.

The government is aiming to complete the shift to digital TV by 2015.

After NTC issues the IRR and decides on which digital TV standard to adopt, broadcasting firms can start rolling out the digital signals alongside analog signals.

The 2015 target, however, may be moved as deemed by the broadcasting firms and consumers, Mr. Cordoba said.

"We could say that it is a moving target. The shift to digital TV will require a lot of investments from firms and it will also depend on how fast the public can adopt," Mr. Cordoba said.

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 , ABS-CBN Corp., RPN Channel 9, and Vanguard Radio Network Co., Inc., among others.

In June last year, representatives from the Japanese embassy and NTC officials signed 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.

Aside from Japan, the ISDB-T has been widely adopted in South America.

In 2006, the industry regulator released a memorandum saying the country would be using the European standard DVB for digital television.

The NTC later deferred this, saying more consultations were needed. - Kathleen A. Martin, dated 18 May 2011, 10:31 PM
Source: Business World

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

IRR. The Bible of Digital TV Broadcast.

We have now chosen the best digital TV standard in the country, the ISDB-T International being fit into the Philippine geography, the lifestyle of TV habits of Filipinos and the future expansion of addressing new markets in advertising and broadcasting. Just last year, the National Telecommunications Commission issued a draft memorandum circular ordering ISDB-T International is the sole digital terrestrial television standard of the Philippines.

With this, next step will be the rules and regulations to be obeyed by everyone, from the broadcasters to the receiving public. Back in early 90’s, the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters ng Pilipinas formed the KBP Technical Standards for Television to maintain equal and balanced in broadcasting industry, from basic setup of the NTSC analog TV standard, to field strength intensities being measured to avoid interference.

Just this February of 2011, the NTC formed the Technical Working Group – Implementing Rules and Regulations or the TWG-IRR to formulate all the norms on digital broadcast. The group will discuss, as the name says itself – rules, and guidelines on every aspects in the upcoming DTT broadcast. To give you instincts on what to expect in the formulation of the IRR, we’ve read the harmonization documents presented by Japan’s Digital Broadcast Experts Group or DiBEG about the similarities of standardization of Japan’s digital broadcast system by Association of Radio Industries and Broadcast or ARIB and Brazil’s SBTVD group ABNT.

Firstly, most of the rules being discussed in the IRR are discussed with full of technical jargons and acronyms. The papers are preceded by abbreviations and definition of terms, as well as the scope of the rules. The IRR is subdivided into technical categories, such as transmission, video and audio standards, multiplex, service information, receivers, security, interactive channel or the middleware and data broadcast. Both Japan and Brazil do have the same concept and same flow of the rules being set, so we do expect the NTC to also follow the suit.

What differs into both ruling systems is Japan’s inclusion of digital satellite and cable TV broadcast, since Brazil’s ABNT guidelines only discuss the terrestrial system. In the Philippines, cable and satellite TV migration is not mandatory, so only the DTT will be deliberated further in the regulations.

In the next paragraphs, we will discourse each categories, hypothetically analyze each to suit into the Philippine digital terrestrial TV broadcast.

Transmission

In the document posted by DiBEG, Japan and Brazil uses the same bandwidth of 6 megahertz, the current TV bandwidth being used in analog, as well as the carrier frequency of 143 kHz above the center frequency, sampling frequency and other technical matters. What differs from both is the frequency allocation, where Japan utilizes UHF band only (14-62) and Brazil includes the highband VHF and UHF (7-69) for their digital broadcast. Others as well as the transmission spectrum and spectrum mask.

Philippines, for sure, will also use the current 6-MHz TV bandwidth for every channel, along with the carrier frequency of shifted 143 MHz on the center frequency. About the frequency plan, tentative is to use the current UHF standard of the Philippines as stated in the KBP guidelines of channels 14 to 62, just like Japan.

Video

In this chapter, the video standard was primarily discussed by both ARIB and ABNT’s rules. Technically, it conveys the scanning capability in digital broadcast, the video signal, video formats and resolutions being used in the broadcast. It both also discussed the procedures on switching formats, from SD to HD and vice versa.

ISDB-T, or other digital broadcast standards, also offers multi-broadcasting. Multi-broadcasting in DTV implies switches from SDTV to HDTV and vice versa. Whenever a channel is in Multi-SD format, for a time it will play a movie in HDTV, a broadcaster can easily transform its setup from 3-channel SDTV to 1 HDTV channel. In both ISDB-T variants, this procedure is preferably available in both markets, it’s the broadcaster who will choose whether they like to implement this or not.

Similarities within both standards also being discussed were the active coding areas, scanning direction, video signal parameters and other technical stuffs. 1seg video encoding is also similar to both flavors, since they use the H.264 MPEG-4 AVC video standard.

What differs from both standards are, essentially, the video coding system in full-segment transmission. Brazil chooses to implement the ITU standard for DTV, the use of H.264 MPEG-4 AVC, while Japanese video standard uses H.262 MPEG-2 video. In principle, H.262 video offers lossless video quality, which is perfectly in-stream with the new Blu-Ray video standard, whilst MPEG-4 is also at par with the quality of MPEG-2, but in reality, the latter is a compressed one, giving way much better use of the bandwidth. As much as possible, 1 HD channel on MPEG-2 can carry 2 HD MPEG-4 AVC channels.

Another difference is, Brazil included in its specifications, the seamless switching of picture aspect ratio with the 525i TV system, which is PAL-M. Remember that the Brazil’s PAL-M is much similar compared to the widely-used NTSC-M. Aside from that, the receiving operations are different for both, since SBTVD includes the 14:9 aspect ratios. 1seg video resolutions also differ, as Brazil includes CIF quality (352 x 288) and the 30fps, while Japan only has 15 fps, QVGA video (320 x 240), as the maximum resolution for portable TV broadcast.

Preempting the Philippines’ own rules on digital broadcast, it will be using the SBTVD standard MPEG-4 AVC. Currently, ABS-CBN is the very first digital TV network to transmit MPEG-4 AVC video, since NBN and GEMNET is under the MPEG-2 video standard. With this, ABS-CBN can fit those 7 channels (including the 5 premium channels to be offered soon) into the 6-MHz bandwidth. Aspect ratio is further being discussed in the IRR, as well as the multi-broadcasting feature. 1seg broadcast will also be using the MPEG-4 AVC, in Japanese video format QVGA at 15 fps.
 Note: The views and opinions of Admin-1 do not reflect the whole DTV Pilipinas. Words being described in the following article do not mean the exact amount of information as technically stated by the resource persons, or even related articles pertained.

Manila Standard Today: Digital TV shift reviewed

Here is a piece of news relayed by the Manila Standard on NTC's stand to review the chosen digital TV standard for the country. As far from now, the National Telecommunications Commission stands for what the unanimous decision has been decided, which is the Japanese Integrated Standard for Digital Broadcast or ISDB-T, and been working out for the rules and regulations that will be implemented throughout the start of the digital TV broadcast age in the next few months.

On the contrary, GMA Network still pushes through the newer generation of DVB-T, the T2 standard, which is mostly the best digital TV standard of the world.

Read the article in the following break.

The National Telecommunications Commission is reviewing the platform that will be used for the country’s transition into digital TV after Europe proposed a newer standard claiming to be better than the Japanese technology.
NTC deputy commissioner Carlo Juan Martinez told Manila Standard in a chance interview that Malacañang has ordered the regulator to consider the newer version of European’s digital video broadcasting technology.
“We are reviewing DVB-T2 simultaneously with the drafting of digital TV rules [under a Japanese platform],” he said.
The NTC in June last year issued a circular adopting Japan’s integrated services digital broadcasting technology as the Philippines’ official digital TV platform.
Martinez said it was likely that NTC would delay the rules because the team reviewing DVB-T2 was part of the technical working group drafting the digital TV regulations on the use of the Japanese platform.
“It is possible that both the issuance of rules and its implementation will be delayed. But we are hoping not since the review will not take a long time,” he said.
He added it was also possible that the chosen standards would be revised, depending on the outcome of the review.
“The DVB-T2 is still more expensive than the Japanese standard so there is a slim chance that the platform will be changed. It is still a possibility,” Martinez added.
The rules are scheduled for release next month while the transition is expected to start in January next year. However, NTC said it was extending the 2015 deadline to completely shut off analog TVs.
There was no formal agreement signed yet between the government of Japan and the Philippines officially designating the latter’s platform as the country’s digital TV technology.
The NTC said the government was still negotiating with the Japanese government to include soft loans for private broadcasters for the acquisition of necessary equipment for the analog TV shutoff.
The National Broadcasting Network, owned and operated by the government, received early this year a $4-million equipment grant from Japan, which will allow the TV network to easily shift from analog to Japanese digital TV technology. - Jeremiah F. de Guzman, dated 17 May, 2011.
Source: Manila Standard Today

Broadband TV News: Philippines considers DVB-T2 switch

Less than a year after adopting the Japanese ISDB standard, the Philippines National Telecommunications Commission is considering a move to DVB-T2.
The Manila Standard quoted NTC deputy commissioner Carlo Juan Martinez as saying the Presidential office, known as the Malacañang had ordered the regulator to consider the use of the newer European standard.
The DVB group is on a high following last November’s decision by South Africa to drop ISDB in favour of DVB-T2.
An investigation into DVB-T2 is running concurrent to the drafting of the rules for the implementation of ISDB.
According to Martinez the directive could cause a delay in the introduction of either standard. “It is possible that both the issuance of rules and its implementation will be delayed. But we are hoping not since the review will not take a long time,” he said.

Martinez added that the additional expense involved in a DVB-T2 deployment meant its chances of introduction were slim. - Julian Clover, dated 17 May 2011, 09:38 AM.
Source: Broadband TV News

Monday, May 16, 2011

Manila Bulletin: Growing trend in digital TV viewing and customized subscription noted

After the success of going digital here in Metro Manila with SkyCable, the leading cable operator in the Philippines, they are now ready to jump into other key cities to offer the digital cable services, being at par with Manila's enticing digital cable TV quality.
CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines – The demand for digital television viewing is increasing in Cebu, with more customers clamoring for more quality image of cable shows from their preferred channels, an official from one of the country’s leading cable operators said.
“As Cebu’s economy becomes more progressive, so is the lifestyle of the people here. Now, cable viewing is now directed towards digital television,” said Ronnie L. Pacio, SkyCable director for Visayas operations.
Amid the competition, SkyCable is leveraging its leadership position in digital TV and on its aggressive move to be at the forefront of providing consumers with a variety of TV content to watch. This has been made possible in the move from analog technology to digital through the DigiBox.
The DigiBox is a digital set-top box connected to a TV set, turning digital signal into content viewed on the TV screen. - Malou M. Mozo, dated 16 May 2011, 04:46 PM.
Source: Manila Bulletin

Saturday, May 14, 2011

DTV Pilipinas Poll: What features do you like to be included on your Set-Top-Box?

We do have the survey about how people will respond on the needs of the features they like to have in their set top boxes in the future. Here are the top likes as of May 14, 2011

So we do have the need of HDMI ports on the lead, garnering 31 likes among DTV Pilipinas and other Facebook members. To think Filipinos do have to experience what high definition means, they even like to have HDMI post on the STB sooner enough as those will be available in the market.

Next will be the 17-pointer EWBS or Emergency Warning Broadcast System. For us, it is the main course of ISDB-T as being adopted here in the Philippines. The country is not different in Japan, except those mealtime tsunamis and earthquakes, but to see those earth-rumbling disasters like flashfloods and typhoons, EWBS is one solution to give Filipinos a better emergency alert better than SMS based communication system.

Tied at 11 points, having Remote Control, Composite out, or Multi-purpose USB Port is a need for Filipino STBs for future digital TV.

To see other related choices, better follow the Facebook Poll started by ours here.

How will ABS-CBN play the digital terrestrial world in the coming days?

Okay, you’ve heard the largest TV network in the Philippines revolutionizing the digital terrestrial TV this coming few months; we’re going to tackle all the possibilities of the network may pursue into.

Market. So, broadcast industry is a big market, from advertisers, to viewers, etc. As a broadcast conglomerate, they may take in the first place the content being show in the market. What they gonna do with this is to have their own premium channels, for sure.

Conditional access system is a system wherein a what-they-call a “smart card” is inserted onto receivers to be granted an access with those scrambled channels. One of the finest cable companies in the country, Sky Cable, is using this kind of system for digital cable, which they can program each card to function whether the so-called Digibox would recognize the card and access only those channels which the subscriber has bought.

And how about the free TV? CAS may potentially be used by ABS-CBN; having their premium channels offered for the first time, which they tagged “ONLY” for their digital TV broadcast (does this mean they will not abide the NTC’s popular “must-carry” rule or what?). They mean five, as in five digital TV premium channels for the family; one for mom, one for dad, another for the grown-up, and two for the kids (which one of them is Knowledge Channel, for sure).

Yes, they’re going to sell those decoder/set-top boxes for digital free TV, soon. In fact, we’re looking forward into that scenario of those ABS-CBN DTV Digiboxes having smart cards or any encryption system or whatsoever. Still, the Implementing Rules and Regulation body has the final word for those premium channels being catered by the networks going digital. Would this create a new TV network war in the future? Let the time machine tell.

Mobility. ABS-CBN Head Mr. Miguel Mercado was once asked during our interview in the ABS-CBN News Channel’s Future Perfect about going mobile. Actually, this one was the very most questionable for the network whether they’re also providing 1-seg signals throughout their DTV transition, as if most of the people who have the guts to scan those digital channels for now have their own 1-seg tuners from mobile phones from Japan, to those of USB-powered TV tuners.

1-seg capability of ISDB-T is one feature in which the transmission side can offer mobile services from portable to handheld devices in one system. During those DTV issues, the European DVB-T offers no mobile transmission of TV signals, instead, they require another standard, which is DVB-H, made for “H-handheld”. 1-seg quality is very robust, since it uses, technically speaking, QPSK modulation, which gives lower bitrate and bandwidth but easy to receive even in those places which are heavily-shielded.

This mobile TV standard originated in Japan, boosted numbers of mobile TV subscribers since it was launched years ago. Japanese people, being mobile most of the time, well-loved 1-seg very much, as well as other features of ISDB-T. From mobile phones, to USB TV tuners, portable TV devices, and even PlayStation Portable (PSP) TV tuners are sold within Japan’s territory, in support with their digital TV migration in the coming months (24 July, 2011).

Filipinos, on the contrary, are ready to switch themselves being mobile nowadays, since mobile phones capable of high-speed Internet and other multimedia applications are now being sold into commercial markets. Those high-end gadgets still do not have television tuners, since manufacturers of those phones have a different digital TV standard to be used (to mention US and Korea use ATSC and the whole Europe goes DVB-T/H and DVB-T2). What you’ll see are those tagged as KIRF (Keepin’ It Real Fake) China phone brands do have TV tuners, which still offered in analog TV quality.

Moreover, buses running on speedy roads sometimes tune in to television networks. Most of the time, rival GMA Network is the very most tuned TV network among buses in the Metro, since they have the technical capabilities of being received by TV sets even in running automobiles.

Okay, so back in the conversation with Mr. Mercado, we asked if ABS also aims to go mobile with 1-seg for us to share the beauty of mobile TV within phone, but he reminded us with the hated word “Soon”. “The network prioritize the viewers with fixed TV sets first, but we’re also in the way of going mobile”. That answer was very simple, yet complicated to analyse. Still, ABS-CBN is in the market of selling everything to the people, and hey! They’re in the business scene, so expect that. Most of the TV viewers are at home, rather than those WWWTV (Walking While Watching TV); presume that the network focuses on them at lead.

Technicalities. ISDB-T standard is based on band segmentation, where 13 segments are allocated for the 6-megahertz TV bandwidth of a network. Sounds quirky?

As far as we know, Philippines will be using the hybrid standard of ISDB-T of Japan and the SBTVD-T standard of Brazil. With the Brazilian flavour, our country will be utilizing the MPEG-4 AVC video standard, with AAC as its audio correspondence. With these standards, our digital TV system will utilize the spectrum in the most efficient way the broadcasters can transmit in digital. Having a maximum numbers of 2 high definition, 8 standard definition and a 1-seg system, TV network can mix-and-match those to offer the viewers’ more than they expect to.

On their previous launch, the network is planned to release ABS-CBN, Studio 23 and new 5 disgusting premium DTV channels in their bouquet, so with the DTV Digibox that comes with a special card for the special channels. Doing the math, ABS is targeted to have 7 channels, for sure in Standard Definition (SD) quality (since the last time I talked to sources is, ABS-CBN getting ready for high definition TV, but not today).

Not today, then the possibility of having CAS, ABS-CBN is mostly seen to use two separate frequencies for digital TV. Previously, ABS-CBN holds the Channel 50 and 51 on the UHF band with their test on the defunct DVB-T. It is much quite impossible to place those seven channels in one frequency, having those five labelled as premium. And to think of having ABS-CBN and Studio 23 into one frequency, they can go HD soon as they have the full contents being in high definition. Remember, most of ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs shows, and even primetime soap operas are in high definition downscaled-to-analog-TV broadcast; they’re much even ready for it for the next three to five years, as soon as the receiving public is also ready too.

Demand. “Rigodon” in Philippine TV just happened this early 2011, as GMA Network and TV5 unveiled their own news and information channels on free TV, par with the ABS-CBN News Channel’s reign for 15 years in the coax. With this, ABS-CBN is expected to have its own news channel soon in the airwaves too, via DTV.

To satisfy the needs of the demand of the people, ABS-CBN should matter into what it is happening now. Okay, so we got Aksyon TV and GMA News TV on the limelight. The latter, was rated for its one-of-a-kind simulcasts of important events in the past few days, made ABS-CBN rang its bell to create something special.

With their offering, five premium channels are expected to be seen on the boob-tube soon. Touted one for each family member, we believe ABS-CBN is in the good works for this. For a scoop, the network is slated to release the following. For dads, it will going to be a news channel, for sure it’s not ANC, because of it’s also being premium on Sky Cable’s line-up, and again people, don’t expect it to be ANC, please. Well, DZMM Teleradyo’s one, too.

For the youth and kids, with a total of three, one is Knowledge Channel from CPI, two of them would be an anime TV network pitted against its own Hero TV in the cable and another clueless, maybe Myx. And for moms, they can have somewhat like TV Chefs, or Velvet, or Lifestyle.

ABS is planning for something new, something again to push through in the works. Also in the conversation with Mr. Mercado, they are in the plan to have those five, new channels, which are not yet seen by any people on TV (Err, is it extraordinary or what?). But since Knowledge Channel expressed its part to be one of those five, maybe the remaining four will be new. Again, the demand of the people should be criticized and be not left out for them to succeed with it.

Competition. The most liked topic by a network-war veteran. With the current system, ABS almost slapped by its major competitor due to some specific issues mattered for a TV broadcast. Garnering 16 years of leading from its revitalization on the late 80’s, ABS-CBN loses the crown being number one for some reasons.

Content-wise, yes. But now ABS-CBN continues to serve people with those originals rather than canned ones. And also don’t expect it to be tackled most here, okay? Tech-blabbering, ABS-CBN’s frequency houses the lowest among TV bandwidth on 54 MHz With their introduction of their Millennium Transmitter on the year that can be read between the lines, ABS’s spot still under the campfire. Remember, GMA’s Tower of Power reminds us the word “Power” at almost 800 feet high now, being at high-band VHF on 174 MHz, no doubt GMA would capture the hearts of the television sets, even only a strip of wire being connected as a cute TV antenna.

The network also ventured into having the Baron antenna into the market, which is very suited for ABS’ reception, but still, the network failed to top again with the technology they introduced. People are still clamouring for the clear and crisp signal before.
The technology word goes into the year 2006 for digital TV broadcast; ABS-CBN was the very first TV network to try. They’re in the midst of having a lighted bulb onto their minds while telling themselves “Ah! We’ve got the ultimate solution!” Along with the NTC’s first draft of having a digital TV standard, ABS-CBN uses DVB-T, along with GEMNET, who dared to switch off its analog channel to be used for DTV.

So much for the history, the competition we’re talking here is almost four-squared. Okay so we’ve got their own box. On the press release, the box also receives those of other channels’ digital TV signals over-the-air with NBN and GEM TV. Don’t dare play dirty with not receiving GMA, TV5 and other channels going digital next. But ABS assures, they’re in the track of NTC’s “must-carry”.

What’s dirty is the CAS. Will it be unified for all TV networks or separately being propounded by each networks’ standard of smart cards? The thing is, “I have my own box with no smart card insertion; will I receive those premium channels of yours?” Definitely, no. Then what if other networks also offer their own DTV boxes, too? Sounds complicated in the pocket, isn’t it?

Positively speaking, TV content (back in the topic) is now being neglected on digital free TV, since the qualities of channel now depends on the modulation scheme and the bitrate it transmits on free air. What’s important is the reception should not be staggered, as for DTV would have a “with-signal, no-signal” degradation; TV networks may compete with the best transmission solutions and antenna system designs and positions for them to have a better coverage of people watching them digitally.

 Note: The views and opinions of Admin-1 do not reflect the whole DTV Pilipinas.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

National Broadcasting Network’s Road to Digital Television

The Opening of Government Television
Tracing back the good ol’ days, the Government Television or simply called GTV was born after the Marcos regime. With the word “government”, the channel aims to make the government closer to the people by the means of broadcast media. Then it was being reformatted to People’s Television or PTV. “People”, which symbolizes the whole network, is what now the channel serves to, until it was being reformatted again and now known as the National Broadcasting Network or NBN.

Being the nation’s flagship government network, NBN targets the mass to fulfil the needs of the whole country. From public service to nationwide news, NBN shows how competitive they were, aside from having the three major networks in the limelight. Time by time, Channel 4 is there to broadcast the President’s address to the nation, the Senate’s hearing, Malacañang’s press releases and various administrative programs exclusive for the government network.

At this point in time, the government still holds the ownership of the two sequestered channels back in Martial Law, namely RPN-9 and IBC-13. Both channels were at the peak of their hiatus in the 90’s, with the network’s introduction to Mexicanovelas and various new game show formats. But as the time comes, those two were slowing down from their success because of the emergence of original stories and soap operas being created by the major networks, which they come to being sold into numerous private agencies wanted to own those networks.

Selling the requisitioned TV networks, NBN will have it way in dominance, since the government can now pay attention into one single channel that they own. The President, which now aims NBN to be at par with the world’s leading flagship broadcasters of their countries like BBC of United Kingdom and NHK of Japan, is ready to fund the network’s readiness to conquer the technological advancements they need to be at par with.

In 2009, the National Broadcasting Network showed an infomercial on how they cope up with the current broadcast developments, from engineering to news gathering. NBN backed up its Channel 4 analog TV with a new powerful Harris transmitter and antennas in 60 kilowatts glory. With this, the network can now realize its nationwide reach having mighty power to relay those programs being fed up into the Broadcast Complex. But what’s mightier than backing up its analog frequency was their introduction of the digital television broadcast of the network.

NBN's Harris Analog TV Transmitter
500 watts of power is too small to run the National Broadcasting Network, but in digital terrestrial TV system, the UHF Channel 48 can now extend its coverage up to Suburbs receiving DTV broadcast. NBN is now known as the 2nd TV network to go digital, next to Iglesia ni Cristo-owned GEMNET. With the use of the Philippines’ DTV standard, ISDB-T, the network can now utilize the frequency to transmit digital TV signals on fixed and mobile receivers.

High definition was once used by NBN as it incepts ISDB-T in their broadcast facility. They show some videos in full 1080i HD until such time, the network reverted to multicasted Standard Definition or SD broadcast. The reason why is because the network cannot accomplish to broadcast on full HD since the network’s contents are not in fully high definition. Unlike GEMNET, which is very ready for HD broadcast as they relay those NET 25 programs onto the country’s first high def free TV channel, NBN stood back with the multi-SD in the late 2009. With three SD channels being offered in the digital spectrum, NBN also aimed to insert those RPN and IBC shows in those two remaining digital sub-channels back in 2010. But since those sequestered channels are now being sold to the private owners, NBN operated its digital channel by having a repeater for the other two sub-channels, having NBN on both 3 digital sub-channels in one frequency.

The NBN's most sophisticated Digital
TV Technical Operations Facility
Purchasing powerful equipments in preparation for more advanced broadcast, NBN is ready to switch back in high definition. Their setup was the most sophisticated among broadcasters with digital TV facility because of the compliance with the ISDB-T transmission. They can switch from SD to HD and vice versa, with 1-seg capability for mobile phones with TV tuners. Aside from those, with the equipped DTV facility from Toshiba, one of the world’s leading companies, NBN can now put on the air the Philippines’ Emergency Warning System, a mandatory set by the National Telecommunications Commission on emergency warnings being broadcasted over TV sets. This will also change the television landscape since NBN is required to relay the emergency warnings throughout the digital continuum while watching other network’s programs.

Back in Japan’s megaquake last March, ISDB-T saved lives of many people with the use of the Emergency Warning System. Japanese broadcaster NHK conveyed an emergency warning throughout the whole Japan receiving its digital broadcast which turns out to be an alarm for the people to spread out of the places being affected by the earthquake. After some minutes, NHK relayed another EWS again for the incoming tsunami for people around the North of Japan. Some people were very ready for it, and rapidly evacuated from their areas saving their own lives.

With this, in view of the fact that Philippines is also prone to various natural calamities and disasters throughout a year, ISDB-T will be a good help for us Filipinos, which 70% of the total population watch television. In accordance with numerous government agencies like PAGASA and NDRRMC, the National Broadcasting Network is very ready for a quick splendour of EWS in the digital world.

NBN's Analog TV (left) and Digital TV
with Datacast (right) comparisons
Also a mandatory, NBN has also its datacasting equipments. Datacast, a new and interactive way of watching TV, is somewhat transmission of data with the broadcast signals on digital TV. While watching, you can press the “red button”, which they tag it sometimes, and see some of the highlights of the show, including the breaking news and weather forecasts.

Summing up NBN’s might in digital terrestrial TV competition, the network is almost on the track in serving the Filipino people for good. These technical advancements made by NBN is just the start of their growing years, NBN can prove they can also be in the service of the Filipino.


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Monday, May 2, 2011

Manila Bulletin: ISDB-T in the midst of disaster

I think GMA Network should read this article.
MANILA, Philippines -- After the devastating earthquake in Japan last March 11, 2011, we heard stories of sadness, despair and of grief but above all these are also stories of survival and of triumph against whatever trials the country was faced with.  For Japan, the disaster definitely brought out the best from its people.  Indeed, their admirable discipline, patience and the sense of brotherhood prevailed.
One such story, as reported from Yomiuri Shimbun, was how two new police officers were able to save 40 lives from a train. Right after the earthquake, a tsunami warning was immediately sent off.  Amazing how information was immediately disseminated even though all TV and mobile networks were disabled at that time.  The warning actually came through a mobile phone with TV on one of the passengers in the train and this was made possible through ISDB-T. The result:  the two police officers quickly led the passengers to the hill and all passengers including the two police officers were safely evacuated from the tsunami area before the tsunami struck the train.  Imagine, if it weren’t for that tsunami warning being sent off through a mobile TV, 42 lives could’ve been lost.
Upon hearing this, I couldn’t help but look back as I still vividly remember how Motohiko Kato, Consul General of Japan in the Philippines passionately discussed to me ISDB-T and how this technology places maximum protection on human lives.
Let me refresh your memory.  A few months back, I wrote an article about our country making the big switch from analog to digital TV broadcast and why ISDB-T was the perfect choice for such switch. Integrated Services Digital Broadcast - Terrestrial (ISDB-T) is the most advanced international standard on digital terrestrial television broadcasting.  Aside from a better reception and wider coverage area, ISDB-T has band segmentation and in one channel bandwidth it can utilize and accommodate a combination of HDTV/SDTV/Mobile TV. One transmitter is enough; hence, it is very economical. But above all, allow me to reiterate to you the importance of this technology when it comes to providing protection to human lives specially in uncontrollable situations like typhoons and natural disasters particularly on earthquakes and tsunamis(as well exemplified to what happened in Japan).
ISDB-T has emergency warning broadcasting system.  This technology prioritizes human lives.   In an unmerciful conditions like earthquakes, typhoons and tsunamis people will get emergency warnings and if in cases where there will be traffic congestion in mobile networks or if any means of communication services were disabled, ISDB-T’s mobile TV can and will be able to transmit emergency warnings and evacuation instructions.  It can endure and tolerate damages caused by the disaster assuring us of continued service.
In emergency cases such as these, normally when the Japan Meteorological Agency gets information of an inevitable disaster such as a tsunami, a warning will be sent off to the different broadcasting networks and this will then be transmitted to the different mediums like televisions and radios.  Television sets or radios that are turned off will be automatically be switched on to give the alert.  In the case of Japan where most houses were destroyed because of the strong earthquake, no television sets or radios were functioning due to power failure.  Information was sent through the mobile TV.  It actually does make sense.  Mobile phones can easily be carried and we practically have it anywhere we go; so in situations like these, it may just be the only thing you can easily grab and get hold of. - Len Amadora, dated 2 May 2011, 2:39 PM.
Source: Manila Bulletin

Sunday, May 1, 2011

I.T. Matters: Digital TV measures out this month?

IMPLEMENTING RULES for the country’s switch to digital television should be out as early as this month, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) yesterday said after missing its April deadline. 
It is still uncertain, however, whether the government will favor the Japanese standard over the European one, a sticking point which the state agency claims won’t delay the issuance of the rules.
“We are set to finish it this month, or June at the latest,” Commissioner Gamaliel A. Cordoba told BusinessWorld in a telephone interview.
The technical working group crafting the rules has been continuously working, he said, noting its recent meeting last Wednesday on the frequency maps for digital TV.
NTC had earlier announced that it would finalize the draft by April at the earliest, however, Mr. Cordoba said that ironing out details took longer than expected.
Sought for comment on which standard the country has chosen to adopt, Mr. Cordoba said: “We’re studying the possibility of a review. We will make the announcement in the second week of May.”
This, however, will not affect the process of crafting the IRR, as it remains “neutral” to any technology, Mr. Cordoba said.
“The IRR contains technical details and it can be used for the adoption of any technology, so we don’t have to worry about creating another if we decide to switch [to another technology,” Mr. Cordoba said.
In June last year, NTC, following unanimous industry support, decided to adopt 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.
Representatives from the Japanese embassy and NTC officials signed 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 then a review on whether the Japanese standard or the upgraded European standard (DVB-2) was raised by the House committee, as revealed by Mr. Cordoba last March.
Earlier in 2006, the industry regulator had released a memorandum saying the country would be using the European standard DVB for digital television.
The Philippines aims to complete the shift to digital TV by 2015. After NTC issues the rules for the digital TV standard, broadcasting firms can start rolling out the digital signals alongside analog signals. - Kathleen A. Martin, Business World, dated 1 May 2011, 10:27 PM.
Source: I.T. Matters