Business World: Digital TV rules out next year

The regulatory body tackling the digital terrestrial TV rules states the Implementing Rules and Regulations roll-out on the first half of 2012. The National Telecommunications Commission is set to update the IRR adding the Migration Plan, a timetable of dates regarding the gradual DTT migration on urban and rural areas. Covering up also are the economic plans for the set top boxes and receivers that will be sold as DTT starts. Read the article after the jump.

THE NATIONAL Telecommunications Commission (NTC) may issue the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) on the country’s digital television standard within the first half of next year, an official said earlier this week.

This, as the NTC said it will need to add a “migration plan” in the IRR, which was planned to be issued last April.

“We might not finish it (the IRR) by year-end because we will be adding a migration plan from analog to digital TV,” Gamaliel A. Cordoba, NTC Commissioner, said in a telephone interview.

“It might [come out] within the first half [of next year],” he added.

The migration plan, he said, will provide the timetable of implementation of the digital TV standard.

“It will also contain how much the government, broadcasting firms and the public will need or are projected to spend,” Mr. Cordoba explained further.

Government will be spending for the spectrum auction of TV signals, broadcast firms will spend for infrastructure needed to roll out digital TV signals, while the public will need to purchase set-top boxes or new TV sets, Mr. Cordoba noted.

Moreover, the migration plan will delve into how transition to digital TV will be implemented per area in the country.

“We will consider whether to roll out [digital TV signals] in an urban area first...or to roll out in different areas at the same time,” Mr. Cordoba said.

An NTC technical working group in August had already recommended the adoption of the Japanese Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) standard.

However, NTC has yet to render a final decision, Mr. Cordoba said.

In June last year, NTC, citing industry support, chose Japan’s standard as the country’s digital TV platform over the European Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) technology.

However, the House of Representatives Committee on Information and Communication Technology last March encouraged a review of which standard to adopt, arguing the upgraded European standard (DVB-2) was not assessed in last year’s review. – Kathleen A Martin, dated 18 November 2011.

Source: Business World

Malaya: NTC shelves digital TV IRR issuance

So much for the migration plan, the delay is somewhat beneficial to GMA Network, the only broadcaster who voted for European' DVB-T2 standard, according to its Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe Gozon. Meanwhile, ABS-CBN’s Chief Finance Officer (CFO) Rolando Valdueza said that the network will have no problem switching their system to DVB-T2 whenever the government still opted for the European standard.

On a lighter note, the only thing awaited is the migration plan to be included in the Implementing Rules and Regulation. Read the whole article after the break.

The much-awaited issuance of the implementing rules and regulation (IRR) on Digital Terrestrial Television will most likely not happen this year.

Gamaliel Cordoba, commissioner of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), told Malaya Business Insight in a phone interview that the government had asked the NTC, along with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), to make a "migration plan" for the smooth shift from analog to digital TV.

Cordoba said that the migration plan must be included in the IRR.

"The migration plan will be included in the IRR," Cordoba said, adding that the issuance will probably happen by early next year.

The rules were originally scheduled for release in June this year, a year after NTC released Memorandum Circular No. 02-06-2010 which sets the standards for digital TV broadcast service.

NTC has chosen Japan’s Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) as the country’s sole standard for DTT, but the new administration asked the NTC to conduct another review.

The government wants the NTC to compare between European and Japanese standards and find out which is better for the country in terms of technical and cost effectiveness.

Although the country has chosen Japanese standards over the European, the government has yet to sign a formal agreement with Japan. .

The NTC has established a technical working group 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.

KBP and its members were in favor of Japanese standard because of its affordable set-top boxes and the assistance that the Japanese government promised the Philippines.

Some TV networks have undertaken test broadcasts of digital broadcast using ISDB-T, namely ABS-CBN, Net 25, RPN, IBC 13, Channel 4 and SBN.

But GMA Network Inc., a KBP non-member, preferred Europe’s Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial 2 (DVB-T2).

Despite the broadcast firms’ different views, the country’s top 3 broadcast stations (GMA, ABS-CBN and TV5) have been investing for the digitalization of their network.

ABS-CBN has estimated to spend P3 billion for migration to Digital TV, P500 million of which have already been spent for the transmitter, acquisitions and film rights, according to Rolando Valdueza, the company’s chief finance officer.

Among the three broadcast network, ABS-CBN through its cable network Sky Cable, introduced its DTV services last May, ahead of its competitors.

The DTV boxes are priced one-time at P2,500 with five free channels and better signal.

The network has conducted test broadcast for the DTT using ISDB-T in Mexico in Pampanga and the towns of San Miguel, San Ildefonso and San Rafael in Bulacan.

Valdueza said that although the company started to conduct a test using Japanese technology, if the government reversed its decision in favor of European standard, it "will have no major impact on the company."

He added that another three to six months delay in issuances of IRR is still "doable".

The delay, however, works in the favor of the GMA Network Inc.

Felipe Gozon, GMA chairman and CEO, said that the delay in the issuance of the IRR has no impact on his company.

"It is good for us. Our people here cannot yet afford [set-top box], you have to give them time, for them to accept the Digital transition were talking to millions of customers," Gozon said.

GMA has allocated P600 million for digital TV.

He stressed, however, that GMA’s equipment are digital ready.

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 the station’s TV program via phone.

The Philippines will be the first in Asia to adopt the Japanese standard for digital TV. – Myla Iglesias, dated 16 November 2011

Source: Malaya

The IECEP Exhibition 2011 Rundown

Last November 3 to 5, the Institute of Electronics Engineers of the Philippines (IECEP) conducted its annual conference, exposition and exhibition at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City. The premiere organization of the country’s electronics engineers once again highlighted some of the best talks for the continuous efforts on profession’s education. Aside from that, alongside with the seminars, the IECEP showcased exhibitors from the top companies from the broadcast, telecommunications and networking systems, digital electronics and other related fields of electronics engineering.

For DTV Pilipinas, we joined the group of the Society of Broadcast Engineers and Technicians of the Philippines or SBETP under Engr. John Achilles Denna, the organization’s secretary. Aside from him, the former president and the man who brought ISDB-T here in the Philippines, Engr. James Santiago, is also present in the said event to represent his company, Village Island, one of the three companies who made the new PTV and Gem HD’s datacasts possible. Among those companies under the SBETP booth were the Integrated Services for Digital Television (ISDTV), the Philippines’ future digital terrestrial television tagging, Village Island, Eagle World Development (EWD), Access Co. Ltd., and Itochu Cable.

The whole booth of the SBETP features the ISDB-T, or the Integrated Services Digital Broadcast, the country’s digital terrestrial television standard adopted from Japan last 11 June 2010. The SBETP, along with the KBP, are known to be supportive of the ISDB-T since its arrival in 2008. Itochu Cable highlights some of the broadcast’s cabling systems like the channel distribution, automated video playout, multi-screen and cable internet. They also feature some of the ways in digital TV broadcasting.

From Access Co. Ltd. under Mr. Hideoki Carlos Ito and Mr. Susumu Sato, they showcased the company’s efforts on trialing data broadcast through Gem HD and PTV’s digital TV channels. With data broadcast, or simply datacast, a user can check out the latest data information real-time on TV while watching programs. These datacasts are broadcasted in simulcast with the video streams of a TV station.

They also do the efforts of simulating a digital TV broadcast transmission using their own transmitter system. While broadcasting, Mr. Sato calibrates the transmission’s streams and data broadcast while we’re checking their booth. Along with the transmission were featuring the Sharp Aquos Phone 923SH from Softbank (which will have us a review soon), and a PlayStation Portable (PSP) with 1seg TV tuner connected on the game console. Those devices shows the Access’ data broadcast streams on 1seg phones. Beneath the booth is a 32” Sharp Aquos Quattron TV connected to a full-seg set-top box from Eagle World Development (EWD), showing the full-seg SD stream broadcasted and the datacast on a television.

What wowed us was the Eagle World Development’s booth of the company’s CEO, Mr. Kenji. The company showcased some of the ISDB-T digital TV receivers they will be offering in the near future once the digital television has been commenced. Some of their receivers were set-top boxes, all capable of receiving high-definition (HD) television broadcast through HDMI, and also features datacast and Emergency Warning Broadcast System (EWBS), the most essential feature of the ISDB-T. Though the EWBS haven’t been demonstrated yet publicly, even inside the IECEP exhibition, we were told by Mr. Kenji that those boxes will surely be capable of receiving emergency warnings when a TV network will once tested the service. Sadly, only one set-top boxes were seen in the booth, but we expect to have them in the next IECEP exhibition. Two of them we want to see is the ISDB-T/DVB-S combo box and the set-top box with Wi-Fi dongle support, which can be used for return channels of datacast streams.

They have the prototype of the full-seg ISDB-T mobile TV tuner for vehicles. It has a dual TV tuner inside, though we forgot to ask how do those work since they only show the tuner itself without trials, capable of receiving high-definition (HD) television broadcast but it doesn’t have an HDMI port. What it has is a D-Tanshi connector, a popular television port in Japanese TV sets, which is also capable of carrying HD signals over its connection. Along with the D-connectors are the popular analog RCA I/O ports and two antenna ports. It also has a mini-BCAS or the Broadcast Conditional Access System card slot, which is used for encrypted television channels usually offered by pay-TV services, a USB slot used for firmware upgrade, and an infra-red connector for remote controls.

A portable TV is also present in the EWD’s booth. This device includes 1seg mobile TV shown in a 5” TFT LCD screen. It can handle popular music, photo and video files. It also has FM transmitter for car stereos and games for touchscreen but the prototype doesn’t have any. E-books are also readable by the tablet, but it only supports TXT file, which we expect it supports Adobe PDF files. What unique feature it has is the GPS navigation system. Badly, the GPS cannot be tracked inside the SMX since it is heavily-shielded. It contains MicroSD and SDHC slot, 3.5 mm. earphone jack, a 3.5 mm. video-out jack and a mini-USB port on the side.

Next in the package is a tiny square 1seg USB TV tuner connected on a netbook. It is quite smaller compared to a five-peso coin (as shown below). The tuner has a vertical coax whip antenna with a mini-F-type connector at the end of the line. It has remote control in the package, and a mini-disc as its software inclusion. The software is currently in evaluation version, but once it is marketed, the software included will be finally licensed as for EWD. The software can support timeshifting and recording 1seg programs on the computer, apart from EPG support.

Last but not the least, is the prototypes of the EWD 1seg phones which we featured months ago via ISDB-T Philippines Facebook page. It comes in black and fuchsia pink, and is quite similar to those from MyPhone, Cherry Mobile and Torque since its UI is almost the same to Shanzai’s. It has a tactile QWERTY keyboard, 2.2” QCIF-resolution LCD screen, a single VGA camera (which is contrary to what it is written on the poster) with LED flash, a loud speaker with built-in K-Digital audio amplifier insider (well, we don’t know what’s that either), and most of all, it features a quad-SIM capability on a quadband GSM network. It does support popular music and video files and far more is it has dual TV tuner inside, one for analog NTSC and one for digital 1seg ISDB-T.

On the UI, the ATV (analog TV) and DTV (digital TV) were separated from each other. We think it is better to make those reception combined in one application, but the phones are still prototypes, and may be subjected to change. Both the analog and digital TV tuner scanning were quite fast (but in fact, the real theory is analog should scan faster than digital since the latter requires signal decoding and synchronization). The sound is superb, though it breaks when it reaches its max level. But thanks to 3.5 mm. earphone jack, any type of headsets can be supported by the phone. The phone has a micro-USB port, which can be used for computer data transfer and power charging. It is tentatively and approximately cost around P 4,000 to P 5,000 in the market when officially available.

After we’ve seen those devices, we we’re able to talk to some of the people around the booth, especially with Mr. Kenji of EWD. We exchanged some ideas, and he’s very open to our suggestions. Particularly, we’re hoping for a full-seg USB TV tuner for PCs and laptops since most of the people now are into mobility. Apart from that, we’ve also suggested to have a 1seg phone dongle for any mobile phones that will support digital TV. Mr. Kenji said that EWD will also have a prototype of the full-seg USB TV tuner soon. Luckily, he gave the tiny 1seg TV tuner to Admin-3 after the exhibition as a present since we’ve supported the EWD’s drive in the exhibition that whole day.

Aside from that, we have also the chance to talk to Mr. Sato of Access Co. Ltd. about the datacast, and we reminded of Gem HD’s datacast over 1seg, since only PTV had changed totally its whole data broadcast from full-seg to 1seg. He said the concern will be fully polished soon since Gem HD’s side is open for an upgrade and the service is still in trial.

Cutting the whole story short, the whole IECEP exhibition was more fun than last year’s. The campaign for ISDB-T and the road to digital terrestrial television is being strengthened as early as today for us to being educated and informed in the future’s forthcoming. People passed by the booth were amazed of the technology and we even had a chance to explain how it works, and they believed to what DTV has to succeed. Next up will be the KBP Top Level Management that will be held at Clark, Pampanga on the next week and we expect another showcasing of receivers and transmission system for digital broadcast of the future.

For more images, please visit our DTV Pilipinas Facebook page.

PTV-4 data broadcast revamp; almost look like Gem HD’s

With the revamp of Gem HD’s data broadcast almost a month ago, People’s Television Network (formerly National Broadcasting Network) Channel 4 also got a revamp of their datacast in line with the current upgrades of the government television station since President Aquino’s State of the Nation Address.

Powered by Access, Village Island and Zoomya, PTV-4’s former data broadcast was presented in plain gray color, showing some of the network’s program IDs below the live TV stream. On the sidebar right of the live program, it shows, NBN’s logo, current date and time, headline news and weather updates.

Going revamped, today’s PTV datacast now stuns in dazzling red, with signboard and current date and time on top. Sidebar goes left, showing off the logos of those three companies who made PTV-4’s datacast more beautiful. Below is a feed from PTV’s Twitter account (@PTVph), which almost look familiar with Gem HD’s datacast, providing MMDA’s Twitter stream. News headlines are also below its live program feed, same from Gem. This is because Access was also the one who made the new look of Gem HD’s datacast.

The datacast feature is only one of the key features of the Japanese ISDB-T standard, the country's future official DTV standard.

Take a look of the photos courtesy of Ms. Cashmere Balisa of People’s Television Network.

A teaser to ABS-CBN Digital Television service; queries from DTV Pilipinas followers answered

A month ago, we were invited by the ABS-CBN DTT Department for their media conference to highlight the network’s test broadcast on selected households at Pampanga. We regret to join the mediacon since we’ve been busy those days but we’re able to catch up with the hype as the network sent us a PR on the same day. Sadly, it’s been better if we joined the club to witness how ABS-CBN trialled their DTT primer outside the Metro with the use of our gadgets and devices which are DTV-capable.

ABS-CBN didn’t gave up on inviting for us to behold what they’ve doing these days in carrying out tests while the government still hasn’t releasing yet the rules for DTT migration. Days after the mediacon, we’ve been invited for a lunch meeting with them, to discuss some matters.

For us, it’s been a pleasure to be invited and yet we’ve been very lucky with ABS-CBN within the first year run of DTV Pilipinas, since we’ve done an interview for ANC’s Future Perfect episode last April and then this. Getting packed up; we’ve compiled some of the queries from our followers on Facebook and Twitter to build some rapport.

Sadly, too much excitement hangs us up; we got 30 minutes late on the said meeting. Sorry and thanks to them, we were still warmly welcomed by two of the department’s men, Sir John and Sir JP. Sir John was the one who called us up and invite us for the mediacon; he’s very glad about how we take in-charge the DTV Pilipinas community, along with Sir JP. They are under Sir Miguel Mercado’s unit, the man behind the ABS-CBN DTV Marketing Management.

We were at the Restaurant 9501 at the ELJCC Bldg. for our lunch meeting. The food was great; though we almost think about how pricey they are. After the tasty food experience, they’ve showed us the mediacon’s presentation.

ABS-CBN has been testing their digital terrestrial television (DTT) service since August in the general Central Luzon Area. For the past 5 years of intensive research, ABS-CBN has come up to embrace the ISDB-T platform. The service is mostly prior to the receiver’s cost since trials were established within Class D-E households.

Integrated Services Digital Broadcast – Terrestrial, or ISDB-T, is Japan’s digital TV standard which is capable of transmitting up to 8 channels per frequency. With the advent of the new DTT standard – the European’s second generation Digital Video Broadcast – Terrestrial or DVB-T2 – ISDB-T still overpowers DVB-T2 when it comes to commerciality of the receiver. DVB-T2, on the other hand, is capable of beaming 14 channels per frequency, which is too much for the Philippines’ free TV landscape. Besides, roughly few networks are only capable of offering multiple programming to viewers. Receivers are priced at approximately P 2,500 for ISDB-T compared to an approximately P5, 000 for a DVB-T2 set top box.

Last August, the National Telecommunications Commission finally decided to go with ISDB-T, as well as recommended by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas or KBP. Though the standard needs to be officially adopted and rules should be issued among broadcasters, ABS-CBN is very ready to deploy its DTT service especially throughout the areas where the signals are very weak.

Aside from those facts, some were too intimate to talk about now. After the short presentation, a short yet informative AVP was also showed to us. Then afterwards, we went on with a roundtable discussion of our queries.

DTVPH: Our first question is [from Bryan Carmona and Nico Castro] may specific date na po ba ang ABS-CBN for DTT?

ABS-CBN DTV is just waiting for the IRR from the government. Once that comes out, we’ll be ready to commercially launch.

DTVPH: Bakit hindi ginawa ng katulad sa GEM na kahit yung Channel 2 at Studio 23, may trial broadcast sa Metro?

ABS-CBN is already doing its test broadcast in Pampanga and Bulacan. We’ve also powered up our transmitter here in the Metro area covering certain portions of Q.C.

DTVPH: About naman po sa sub-channels. [From Mikki Eugenio] anong difference sa programming between those [digital] free TV channels sa cable channels.

There will be some channels which will be different from that of the cable channels and there will be channels that will remain the same. You’ll get to see and better appreciate these in more detail once we commercially launch our channels.

DTVPH: May nakita akong video sa YouTube na, former name niya ay SineBox. Bakit po naging CineMo?

The channel underwent extensive marketing research and this is the current name we have for the channel.

DTVPH: Does CineMo contain mixed contents, for example, Tagalog and English movies?

Yes, the channel will have mixed content but will be more dominant in Filipino movies.

DTVPH: There are a lot of fans who are eyeing for not only English, but for Asian movies.

This is something that we’re very much aware of and we are exploring how we’ll address this.

DTVPH: Will these channels [be running] 24/7?

Not all channels will be running for 24 hours. Some will run close to 20 hours a day.

DTVPH: Pwede rin po kasi yung salitan with ANC so there will be a balance mix [of news programming]

Right now, we’re sticking with our plan to solely air our news channel for ABS-CBN DTV. The inclusion of ANC is something that we can definitely explore in the future.

DTVPH: About again sa 24/7, for DZMM, we all want all-around news, from day and night. Kung may sign-on/sign-off siya...

Again, we’re following the programming schedule our selected news channel. We recognize however this demand from the market and this is something we can explore in the future.

DTVPH: For Yey, the programming will be mixed Japanese and Western. Pero nung nakita nila na parang maglalagay ng live action kids program, medyo nagkaroon ng concern ng konti. So paano po ang magiging programming ng Yey?

ABS-CBN DTV’s all-day animation channel is set to show cartoons which is the majority of the channel’s content. Yes, it will include some live action content but we will continue to address the needs kids market. More of the programming details will be revealed once we launch.

DTVPH: So how about asking [from Mikki Eugenio] bakit walang sports sub-channel? Will it be renegated to Studio 23?

ABS-CBN is already taking care of the Filipino people’s sports needs by showing these on Channel 2 and Studio 23. For example, we showed last season’s NBA Finals early this year on Channel 2. We felt that a sports channel is not needed at this point but this is an option we can explore in the future.

DTVPH: [From Nene Rb] Is the DTV Digibox now available?

As mentioned earlier, the box is not yet available for commercial release due to the pending IRR from the government. We have selected test broadcast communities however with households already using a test version of the box.

DTVPH: About naman po sa DTV Digibox [from Rom Marquez] ano daw po ang ibang features ng DTV Digibox?

The ABS-CBN DTV box has the capability to receive digital transmission and can be connected to any TV. This will give the consumer digital clear picture and sound plus 5 additional premium channels.

DTVPH: Nagiging misconception kasi for DTV Digibox is it will be like SkyCable's Digibox, parang will it have yung mga function na recording, ganun?

No, the ABS-CBN DTV box will not be capable of recording as it is a different box from that of Sky Cable’s.

DTVPH: The final cost of the box…

The commercial cost of the box is P2,500 with no monthly fee needed.

DTVPH: We've seen the report on TV Patrol and Bandila, we have observed that there is no HDMI port on the box; will ABS-CBN release an HD version of the box for consumers who have LCD TVs?

The current box cannot support HD. As for future versions, this is something we can definitely explore.

DTVPH: Pero generally, [from Karl Aguilar] does ABS-CBN have plans on going HD?

ABS-CBN going HD is definitely something we can explore doing in the future.

DTVPH: Iniisip po namin kung ire-renegade or ilalagay na lang ang ABS-CBN HD sa SkyCable.

This is something we can consider and explore in the future.

DTVPH: But it can decode HD signal right? For example GEM HD.

That’s right, the box can decode HD but the output of GEM TV is still SD. This is so because our box does not have an HDMI port.

DTVPH: Pag nag-release din po yung ibang network ng boxes nila, will it affect your market?

Yes, in effect if the other networks release their own box, depending on certain specs and offerings, these will most likely be in direct competition in our box.

DTVPH: In the United Kingdom and New Zealand they have this thing called Freeview, parang collaboration ito ng lahat ng channels. Bakit hindi po ganun ang gawin niyo?

The reason why the collaboration happened is the governments in these respective countries mandated that all channel providers will give their content to one box supplier. Here in the Philippines, it’s a different case.

DTVPH: So parang in the end, sa government, sa IRR pa rin manggagaling [yung rules]?

Yes, on top on what DTT system to use, the IRR will dictate all the rules for the digital migration of the country.

DTVPH: Kung magkakaroon din po ng Freeview na for example, si kabila, maglalabas din ng premium channels, and then meron din akong company na gusto ko, yung box, kukunin ko yung premium niyo, yung premium nila, para po sa isang box ko, sama-sama sila. Are you open for that? Then share the money [with the broadcasters]?

We doubt that that is going to be a possibility here in the Phlippines. If that is actually going to happen, then we can explore how ABS-CBN will deal with that situation.

DTVPH: Now we’re talking about the ISDB-T features, like GEM and NBN right now are focusing on datacasting, or the data broadcast. [From Red Mendoza], is ABS also going datacasting?

For the version of the box during commercial release, the answer is no. But that’s something we can definitely explore in the future.

DTVPH: Though some people suggest na ang gawin nila for example sa Teleradyo, for digital-TV version, will be fullscreen but the datacast will handle the graphics and info.

That’s a good suggestion. Again, it’s something we can explore in the future.

DTVPH: And then the Emergency Warning System [also from Red Mendoza]

We understand that the EWS is an essential component of the ISDB-T technology and this is something we are aiming to take full advantage of. We’ll be exposing details of this more once we launch commercially.

DTVPH: Paano po yung magiging siste ng broadcast ng ABS in the future pag na-fully launched na ang DTV; paano po yung mga regional stations [from Eddie Tadiaman and Jo Cano]?

The regional areas covered by ABS-CBN will also be able to use the box and the benefits of digital television.

DTVPH: Kasi iniisip po kasi nila is biglang ipalabas sa regional is yung national [programming]...

That is something that we will manage internally to ensure that the regional areas will still receive their local programs along ABS-CBN DTV’s new content.

DTVPH: Hindi po ba magkakaroon ng interference [between regional stations]?

We intend to give our viewers the best service so that’s something we will manage. We’ll be assuring our viewers that they will be getting the clear digital signal they paid for.

DTVPH: Very last sir, can we test the box in the future? [Laughs]

Yes, rest assured once we commercially launch, your team will be one of the first to receive a box from us.

DTVPH: When will ABS fix their 1seg (the mobile broadcast)?

While that’s not in my scope, I’ll make sure to relay the message to our team so they can remedy the situation.

DTVPH: About EPG (Electronic Program Guide), will it be available?

Yes, the EPG will be available on our product.

DTVPH: And then meron din po siya nung may reminder function, yung automatically lilipat? Sa SkyCable po kasi, sa lahat ng digital TV boxes, may schedule function na if you want to watch channels at [a certain time]...

Our EPG will have various features and these will all be revealed to you soon once we commercially launch.

DTVPH: Ok lang po ba sa inyo kung lahat ng TV channels ay maging unified for digital TV?

That would be the ideal scenario. It’s inevitable that the Philippines will shift to Digital Television. I think it would be better if all networks will work together to see that this dream finally become a reality.

Devant shows off ABS-CBN DTV in the Metro

Known LCD TV manufacturer Devant, which claims to be the 1st among other TV brands that has an integrated ISDB-T digital TV tuner, shows off the current DTV line-up on Mega Manila. Through its thorough channel scanning, we found out that ABS-CBN is now beaming digital signals throughout the Metro using UHF Channel 43. Among those being scanned were the main ABS-CBN, its UHF channel Studio 23, and those five premium channels Cine Mo!, Yey!, Knowledge Channel, DZMM Teleradyo and Myx 2.

In line with the channel scanning, ABS-CBN uses the local channel numbering (LCN), or what we call virtual channeling, of Channel 11. ABS-CBN, on Channel 11.16, Studio 23 on 11.17, and the five premium channels above located at 11.18, 11.21, 11.22, 11.23 and 11.24 respectively. But prior to those premium channels of the network, those were not being shown on the Devant LED LCD TV since those premium channels are only accessed through the DTV Digibox, the ABS-CBN’s set top box brand.

What we were amazed is that ABS-CBN makes use of Electronic Programme Guide (EPG), the first among current digital free TV broadcasters Gem HD and PTV. With EPG, the name of the show being aired can be retrieved through data broadcast, even those programs that will be aired for the rest of the day, and even those programs that will be broadcasted for next week. For Devant, only the current show being aired is only retrieved.

Previously, we had our follower Daryl Bincal, who shared us a photo that the Devant LED LCD TV now shows ABS-CBN on digital free TV, aside from Gem HD and PTV (former NBN).

And to prove his contribution, we went to Trinoma Mall at Quezon City and talked to the Devant customer representatives about this matter. They gladly discussed about it somehow and we’ve posted a video showing the channels being accessed by the said Devant LED LCD TV.

Fore more information, kindly visit our updated DTV Pilipinas Digital Free TV Channel Listing.

DTV Pilipinas’ Digital Free TV Channel Listing (as of 26 October 2011)

Japan MIC: Republic of Maldives adopted ISDB-T; second Asian country to do so

Its official! The Republic of Maldives wowed us as they officially adopt ISDB-T as the country’s DTV standard. Through the state-run Maldives Broadcasting Corporation or MNBC, Maldives decided to go ISDB-T in the afternoon of October 19, 2011 with signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between Japan and Maldives.

Geographically, Maldives is a small island in the Indian Ocean. In fact, ISDB-T is very appropriate to Maldives’ situation since the country is prone to disasters like tsunamis and earthquakes. ISDB-T has what we call the Emergency Warning System to broadcast emergency alarms through television signals over the air.

Below is the current status quo of the digital terrestrial television around the world. As of now, Maldives is the second Asian country to adopt ISDB-T, next to Philippines back 11 June 2010 – dated 19 October 2011.

Source: Japan Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

DTV Pilipinas’ Digital Free TV Channel Listing (as of 20 October 2011)

Office of the President: Aquino commits to settle digital TV issue by early 2012

It was foretold that the Malacanang is ready to issue an executive order regarding the official adoption of the Japanese ISDB-T digital terrestrial TV standard before President Aquino flies to Japan. But since then, the office wasn’t too ready because of economic timing and second thoughts.

Now, President Aquino commits to settle the digital terrestrial TV standard by early next year. It will be a short delay, but we are still expecting for the good. Hope that the government settle this issue without introducing again anything. Back last month, the National Telecommunications Commission, the governing body set to adopt the official DTTV standard, finally choses ISDB-T over the European DVB-T2.

One thing that we also read in this article was the concern regarding the Philippines’ adoption of Betamax standard against the VHS. We mean, it is just like comparing onions to fruits. Betamax and VHS are recording standards; it may also be connected to TV broadcast but still, broadcast standards are way too different to compare with the first. Read the article after the break.

TOKYO, Japan: President Benigno Aquino III made an assurance that the Philippines will soon complete its technical evaluation of its digital television format in the first quarter of 2012.

During a roundtable discussion between President Aquino and Japanese leaders, Marubeni Corp., one of Japan’s major companies raised its concerns over the Digital TV issue in the Philippines, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Sonny Coloma, Jr. said in a media briefing in Tokyo.

Coloma said that the President told Marubeni that the National Telecommunication Commission is still in the process of evaluating the issue given the rapid developments in communications technology.

Coloma said that when the issue was first raised last year, the dominant standard was the European standard. There was a Europe I standard and since then a Europe II standard has also come up and the President pointed out that the Philippines in the past adopted the betamax standard when the rest of the world had the VHS format, he said.

Settling the standard issues is the reason why the President wants a more deliberate technical evaluation process to ensure that there will be no disruption in the social or cultural aspect, Coloma explained.

“The President mentioned that watching television is a major activity among our people, even citing that during the political campaign, the schedule of rallies at night had to be synchronized with the schedule of the popular telenovelas,” Coloma said.

“He said we don’t want any disruption arising from technology mismatch and this is why he said that the process is still ongoing. He mentioned that the decision on the technical evaluation would be completed by the first quarter of 2012,” he added.

Top executives of Marubeni met the President Tuesday committing several big ticket projects in the country in partnership with major Philippine companies like San Miguel Corp. and Aboitiz Group of Companies. – dated 28 September 2011.

Source: Office of the President News Desk

Business World: Investments, stronger ties touted as Aquino ends trip

PRESIDENT Benigno S.C. Aquino III returned yesterday evening from a three-day working visit to Japan, which he claimed had resulted in over a billion dollars in new investments and a strengthened “strategic partnership”.

“In just three days, we took part in 36 meetings and other engagements where we were able to secure $1.4 billion in assured investments,” Mr. Aquino said upon his arrival.

The funds, he noted, would go to energy, manufacturing, and services, adding that investors were also told that the Philippine business environment was “more open, fairer and freer”.

The “strategic partnership,” meanwhile, covers areas such as bilateral trade, public-private partnerships (PPP) and even the South China sea dispute.

Following a meeting on Tuesday, Mr. Aquino and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda issued a statement that they wanted stronger ties aimed at fostering “robust trade, investments and development cooperation.”

Both leaders committed to the “smooth implementation and operation” of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement, in particular reviewing Article 161 on the promotion of the movement of natural persons.

Consultations will be continued, they said, “in order to further improve the current situation including the smooth dispatch and acceptance of Filipino candidates for qualified nurses and certified careworkers.”

Mr. Aquino pitched his government’s PPP program, to which Mr. Noda replied that a mission would be sent to Manila in March next year.

Japan also committed to support the improvement of the investment environment through the “active utilization of official development assistance”.

Messrs. Aquino and Noda also committed to “continuing dialogues with Japanese business groups, to further promote investment.” The “timely conclusion” of the Philippines’ adoption of the Japanese Terrestrial Digital TV Broadcasting standard was also pledged.

Finally, Japan supported the Philippine position that maritime disputes involving the South China Sea be resolved peacefully. Both leaders expressed hope “for the early formulation of a legally-binding Code of Conduct that is consistent with established international law.” – JPDP, dated 29 September 2011, 12:21 AM.

Source: Business World

Take a look at the new Gem HD's data broadcast.

Since last year, we haven't found out what happened to Gem HD's data broadcast, long for datacast. As with  Admin-3's update, the datacast system of the network was haven't been refurbished since after the 2010 elections. News weren't updated, weather bulletins were not correctly forecasted. And even some of the info of the past are still in broadcast.

But now, Gem HD, the first and only high definition channel on digital free TV as of this writing, showcased another look for its datacast, as it now features updated news and weather forecasts in cool blue motif. Aside from that, Gem HD also gave way to update the latest traffic information coming from the official MMDA's Twitter site. This gives us Filipinos more interactive way of having daily doses of news and information straight, not only to our household TV sets, but also for the future portable TV sets, gadgets and mobile phones.

Aside from Gem HD, the National Broadcasting Network do also have its datacast. Though Gem HD was the first to have, NBN's data broadcast system was installed only earlier this year. The datacast feature is only one of the key features of the Japanese ISDB-T standard, the country's future official DTV standard.

Photos taken courtesy of our fellow member at DTV Pilipinas' Facebook Page.

As Tropical Cyclone Pedring heads up into Luzon, Gem HD
streams out the latest weather forecast through its datacast.

The official MMDA Twitter stream, a one-of-a-kind
data broadcast feature.

With the data broadcast, you can read all over a
news item through your TV sets.

Aside from news and information, you can also view some
of the network's program information through images.

The Gem HD's new datacast panel.

ABS-CBN: Soon to rise: ABS-CBN's state of the art soundstages

ABS-CBN Corporation is set to build state-of-the-art soundstages and backlots that will enable the Kapamilya network to meet the multimedia company’s expansion plans and its growing needs to serve the viewing public. 

“The first soundstage will be up before end of 2012 in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan,” said ABS-CBN Chief Technology Officer Raul Bulaong, who is responsible for ABS-CBN’s production, post-production, animation, and transmission. Bulaong said a soundstage is a sound-proof building in which TV shows and films are shot. “It’s like building a place where you can put together a hospital room, a hotel lobby, and an office space side by side and even shoot scenes sequentially,” he said. ABS-CBN is the first among the local TV networks to pioneer the construction of state-of-the- art soundstages as it was also the first to build state-of-the-art TV studios in the 90s. 

Aside from soundstages, Bulaong said ABS-CBN will also be constructing backlots which are areas adjacent to a soundstage that will enable them to shoot exterior or outdoor scenes like streets in foreign countries, a slum area, or even a generic street in New York City without the need to travel to far flung places. “With these facilities, you can easily do that.  You just replicate the scenes,” he said. 

Bulaong said the consumers stand to benefit from the plan. “ABS-CBN is producing a lot of TV shows aired on channel 2, Studio 23, cable TV channels like ANC, movies by Star Cinema,” he said. And when the National Telecommunications gives its go signal for local networks to shift to digital TV, ABS-CBN will be launching five more new channels.  This would mean more content and more shows that ABS-CBN should be able to produce efficiently. 

For the city of San Jose del Monte, the construction of soundstages will be spurring development as demand for accommodation and recreation will be created as more production people and celebrities start trekking to Bulacan to work on TV and film assignments. – dated 25 September 2011, 10:16 PM.

Source: ABS-CBN Corporate Communications

Adobo Magazine: ABS-CBN to build soundstages for films and TV shows

THE PHILIPPINES, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011: ABS-CBN Corporation has announced plans to build state-of-the-art soundstages and backlots to keep up with the network's expansion in multimedia. It is the first among the local TV networks to pioneer the construction of soundstages. 

“The first soundstage will be up before end of 2012 in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan,” said ABS-CBN Chief Technology Officer Raul Bulaong, who is responsible for ABS-CBN’s production, post-production, animation, and transmission. 

Soundstages, sound-proof buildings in which TV shows and films are shot, allow multiple interior set-ups, minimizing the need to travel to different locations. Aside from soundstages, Bulaong said ABS-CBN will also be constructing backlots that will enable them to shoot exterior or outdoor scenes. 

Bulaong said the consumers stand to benefit from the plan. “ABS-CBN is producing a lot of TV shows aired on channel 2, Studio 23, cable TV channels like ANC, movies by Star Cinema,” he said. 

And when the National Telecommunications gives its go signal for local networks to shift to digital TV, ABS-CBN will be launching five more new channels.  This would mean more content and more shows that ABS-CBN should be able to produce efficiently. 

For the city of San Jose del Monte, the construction of soundstages will spur development as demand for accommodation and recreation will be created by the production people and celebrities who will trek to Bulacan to work on TV and film assignments. – dated 26 September 2011.

Source: Adobo Magazine Website

Newsbytes: ABS-CBN: No reason to delay DTV rollout

Lopez-owned broadcasting giant ABS-CBN, which has been undertaking digital terrestrial TV (DTT) test broadcasts since August, said last week that the public is already clamoring for a shift to digital TV and that there’s no reason to further delay its rollout.

DTT is also known by the term digital TV or DTV.

ABS-CBN marketing executive Miguel Mercado said in a media briefing in San Fernando, Pampanga that “test broadcasts on DTT have convinced free-TV or non-cable households that digital TV migration will give them clearer and better quality viewing experience.”

Mercado said the wide channel options enabled by the digital multi-frequency platform, as well as the dramatic improvement of signal quality or reception, is key source of satisfaction for viewers of DTT.

Ninety percent of the total Philippine viewing public is on non-cable free-TV, according to an ABS-CBN study.

The TV network began its DTT trial broadcasts in August this year in selected households belonging to D-E sectors in the towns of Mexico in Pampanga, and San Miguel, San Ildefonso, and San Rafael in Bulacan.

The DTT trial broadcasts were spurred by a National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) memorandum circular in 2010, which picked the Japanese standard ISDB-T (Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial) as the country’s DTT platform.

In its circular, the NTC noted ISDB-T is much affordable over Europe’s DVB-T or Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial.

An ABS-CBN report, for instance, quotes an ISDB-T set-top box as 60 percent cheaper than DVB-T at P2,500.

Other broadcast networks that have undertaken DTT test broadcast in the country include Net-25, GemTV, and government TV station NBN (National Broadcasting Network).

The NTC decision, however, is still under review by Malacanang as the government is reportedly is keen on giving a second look at DVB-T.

GMA-7, which has also relayed its intention to migrate to digital TV, is supporting the European standard DVB-T. – Marlon Magtira, dated 25 September 2011, 10:42 PM.

Source: Newsbytes Philippines

Manila Bulletin: GMA 7 ready for digitization

MANILA, Philippines — GMA Network is now ready for full digitization. 

Speaking before business leaders from the Philippines and Asia at the recently concluded 2011 MAP International CEO Conference, GMA Chairman and CEO Atty Felipe Gozon spelled out several ways by which the Kapuso Network is coping with the challenges of digitization: Development of versatile business models; re-purposing of content to accommodate various channels of delivery; and sustained commitment to develop innovative program content. 

According to Gozon, despite heightened use of the Internet as a channel to access media content, including entertainment and news, television will not be totally sidelined nor will be it relegated to the background. “Yes, the television set will continue to be an effective – if not the most pervasive – medium at least in the Philippines, for many years to come.” 

Gozon says TV has already transformed itself into mainstream media across platforms as evidenced by the rate of TV consumption in the country, which increased to 98% in 2011, from 97% in 2007, according to the report of Synovate. 

“However, fast-paced technological developments have caused media to evolve. Today, media players acknowledge that the rules of the game have changed. Actually, there are is no one prevailing rule. The trend is convergence, the vehicle is innovative technologies and the hook is social media. The race is no longer about reaching a large audience – it is connecting with them, 24/7.” - 24 September 2011, 1:34 AM

Source: Manila Bulletin

Philippine Star: Palace backs Japanese digital TV standard

Due to Philippines' extreme calamities happening these days, Malacanang's issuance of the official adoption of the Japanese standard was postponed. It was later said that President Aquino is set to issue an E.O. for the ISDB-T before he flies to Japan, but still, Malacanang has of these "second thoughts" due to timing.

What "timing" means? Simply speaking, there are more important options to talk about rather this one. Budget for example. We think it is also not the right time to officially commence the service. Come up before December is better. But still, it says that we could save almost P10 billion of adopting the Japanese standard now, as the ISDB-T decoder boxes are half the price of the European DVB-T2's. One more thing is we could again come up with an updated analog switch-off date. The earlier it means the country could save millions of pesos in transmission, energy and frequency.

But as we always say at DTV Pilipinas, if not now, why tomorrow? Read post after the break.

MANILA, Philippines - While the broadcasting industry has already thrown its support for the adoption of the Japanese digital terrestrial television (DTT) standard that should be adopted by all Philippine broadcasting entities, Malacañang is reportedly still contemplating on when to adopt it. 

Sources told The STAR that Malacañang is supposedly set to issue an executive order for the adoption of the Japanese standard before President Aquino’s state visit to Japan but is now having second thoughts on the timing. 

The Japanese government has been pushing for the adoption of the Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting–Terrestrial (ISDB-T) amidst intense lobby by rival European standard. 

“It will be a Malacañang issuance because they know that the Japanese government wants this,” a source said. 

But because some economic managers have raised concerns as to the timing of the adoption of the DTT standard, sources said it will now be up to President Aquino to make the final decision. 

“The announcement is crucial because it will determine when the analog transmission will completely be switched off. And if the announcement is postponed, it will give the Europeans the time they need to catch up and make their technology cheaper,” a source said. 

It is estimated that if there are 16.4 million TV households nationwide, choosing the Japanese technology now will mean savings of about P10 billion considering that the Japanese set-top box is cheaper by half than the European version. 

The Japanese government has offered not only to provide official development assistance (ODA) but also the establishment of a factory in the Philippines that will make the digital set-top boxes needed for the shift from analog to digital transmission. The Japanese, in the meantime, are offering to sell set-top boxes at prices much lower than what the Europeans are offering. 

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) DTT technical working group III has recommended the adoption of the Japanese version after all broadcasting companies, except GMA Network, threw its support for ISDB-T. 

Under a draft circular, the NTC will mandate that all broadcasting entities switch off their analog transmission by 2015 although there are talks that this may be further extended. 

A number of broadcasting companies such as ABS-CBN are now test-broadcasting via digital transmission. ABS-CBN’s in-home test involves 108 homes in Bulacan and 29 in Pampanga.

The Pampanga test households have reported that the snowy transmission, double images, and faded colors associated with analog is no longer experienced with digital. 

Prior to the deadline, digital and analog transmission will exist side by side with digital transmission made possible using digital set-top boxes. By 2015, television sets should either be digital-ready or use digital set-top boxes since the analog transmission will completely be switched off. - Mary Ann Ll. Reyes, dated 23 September 2011, 12:00 AM.

Source: Philippine Star

ABS-CBN News: More households willing to shift to digital TV

MANILA, Philippines - The number of households willing to switch to digital TV has increased after a broadcast giant held a two-week trial period.

ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. said on Thursday that it started on August 1 a test broadcast on digital terrestrial TV (DTT) using Japanese technology ISDB-T in selected areas in Pampanga and Bulacan.

The test, according to ABS-CBN DTT marketing head Miguel Mercado, showed that the sample households’ willingness to shift from analog to digital TV increased from 44 percent to 56 percent after a two-week period.

The company chose to test the technology in households belonging to the D and E economic classes in 29 homes in Mexico, Pampanga and 108 homes in the towns of San Miguel, San Ildefonso and San Rafael in Bulacan.

Based on the test broadcast, the strongest drivers are the increase in channel options enabled by the digital multifrequency platform, as well as the improvement in signal quality or reception, which was cited as the key source of viewer satisfaction.

Mercado, in a briefing, told reporters ISDB-T’s more affordable set-top box has an initial retail price of P2,500 while European’s DVB-T technology is said to be 60-percent costlier.

“On the prices of digital boxes, we asked the consumers how much they are willing to pay. The price range they gave us is from P2,000 to P3,500. So based on these [price points], we tried to look for a sweet spot in which we could still do business,” said Mercado.

ABS-CBN has been preparing for the shift to digital TV for the past five years. Investments could reached by as much as P1 billion this year and next.

Aside from ABS-CBN other networks currently conducting broadcast test of ISDB-T technology are Net 25, Gem TV and government station National Broadcasting Network.

“We hope the go-signal from Malacanang will come within the month,” added Mercado.

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has already chosen the Japanese standard over the European technology but has yet to get feedback from the economic team of the Arroyo administration.

“If their feedback is to proceed, then we will issue the IRR [implementing rules and regulations] and schedule the signing of the memorandum of agreement with the Japanese,” NTC deputy commissioner Carlo Jose Martinez said.

The team is composed of the agency head of the Department of Finance, National Economic and Development Authority, and Department of Trade and Industry. The NTC is awaiting their comments on the economic implications of its decision to shift to digital TV. – Lenie Lectura, Business Mirror, dated 23 September 2011, 07:20 AM

Source: ABS-CBN News

Exclusive: The ABS-CBN Digital TV Channels Revealed

The 5 new ABS-CBN DTV channels. Photo courtesy of TheSandies Jet.

Today's news spread like a wildfire, as ABS-CBN spills out another relaunch of the digital terrestrial TV service of the network. As much as we wanted to, but all of us at DTV Pilipinas do have such commitments made today that's why we regret to join today's media press conference for the said service.

Months ago, ABS-CBN made its official launch, after almost years ago when the network is getting ready for its first DTV testing among other broadcasters. With the relaunch last 4th of April, ABS-CBN teased their DTT service by having 5 new premium channels set to conquer the digital TV mainstream. Among the main ABS-CBN and its UHF channel Studio 23, the media conglomerate bids to offer five more channels on digital free TV once it is finally officiated.

In short summary, digital terrestrial television, or digital ffree TV, is a technology wherein digital signals are being transmitted instead of analog signals that introduces noise and unclear picture and audio quality. With digital signals being transmitted over the air, a TV subscriber should have a receiver, known as the set-top box or STB, to decode those digital TV signals. Through DTV, a TV network can have a DVD-like quality or even have a high definition (HD) Blu-ray-like quality signals without subscribing to local cable and satellite operators. It may have, for a single channel, a maximum 8 sub-channels in standard definition (SD) format, or 2 sub-channels in high definition or HD format, unlike in analog which has 1:1 channel-to-program ratio.

Tracing the history, we exclusively made an article about ABS-CBN's line-up on digital free TV channels. But due to the responsible use of social media, we've just teased our followers on what to expect on the network's run to digital broadcast.

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

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.

And now, the history unveiled, as the ABS-CBN primetime newscast TV Patrol reported today's media conference about the network's test broadcast in Pampanga, ABS-CBN Digital TV channels we're also seen, as shown in the picture above.

It may not be unclear, but the ABS-CBN DTV Digibox showed its contents with the ABS-CBN's digital channel. Along with the ABS-CBN and Studio 23, those five premium channels are set to be received using the network's DTV Digibox only. This may also be unclear to all of us, since it is nice to say that ABS-CBN will be offering new channels in free-encrypted format. As long as we've conversed with the people behind the network's DTT service, we'll inform all of you guys about this matter.

For now, let's talk about the premium channels. Why premium? Because those channels are only received by those ABS-CBN DTV Digiboxes. Others may say this is just a business issue, but there are some factors to discuss here. Contents of the said channels are being paid. Just like in cable television service, you pay for what you want to watch. According to a news source weeks ago, ABS-CBN spent almost billions of pesos acquiring for a movie library set to broadcast in digital TV. And that's for the movie channel only.

Maintenance is also a key factor to this issue. In analog, it is a harassment to broadcast 24/7 since a transmitter needs to rest for hours. For TV5's AksyonTV Channel 41, it is hard to maintain such television station with a whole-day transmission without getting off-air. What more for five channels? Digital TV may introduce low power transmission, but the maintenance is still in the hands of the technicals. Those premium channels of ABS-CBN will be 24/7.

So much for those factors, we'll now reveal for those channels in line with the ABS-CBN digital TV setup.

Movie Channel	Cine Mo!	Dubbed as SineBox years ago, ABS-CBN made this new channel exclusively for digital free TV. This will show local and some foreign films included in the ABS-CBN DTV movie library. Its name may incorporate Cinema One, this is not under the ABS-CBN Creative Programs Inc. (CPI).
Cartoon/Anime Channel	Yey!	First known as Yey! TV, this is also a newest channel of ABS-CBN exclusively made for digital free TV. Cartoon and anime fans may celebrate with the birth of this one since it may show some anime and cartoon shows previously broadcasted on ABS-CBN, its cable channel HeroTV, or even a new title.
Educational Channel	Knowledge Channel	Back in 2009, we’ve posted an article about the Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc. (KCFI) to have a new learning system using Knowledge Channel in digital free-TV format. Since the new millennium, KCh has been in part of the ABS-CBN cable channels group and some of the schools do have their own cable TV systems just to offer Knowledge Channel in their respective learning subjects. With this, schools may no longer be connected to cable just to watch Knowledge Channel’s educational programs.
News Channel	DZMM Teleradyo	In line with the 25th anniversary of DZMM, they may now be switched on to free-TV. Since then, Teleradyo had undergone several changes, from including ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs programs, to strengthening its radio-TV landscape in offering the latest and breaking news straight to your television sets.
Music Channel	Myx 2	The second generation Myx, Myx 2 is made to divert those programming into its successor cable channel.  As of now, it is unclear if Myx 2 may have different program line-up with Myx, but for sure, the teens will enjoy having Myx 2 a 24/7 music channel on free TV.

With the ABS-CBN's offering to digital TV service, it is sure that the transition to digital terrestrial TV may become successful, as other networks are also set to have also multi-content programming. We're sure to say that 2011 is the beginning of the future of Philippine TV.

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.