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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source: net25