NBN: KBP says ISDB is the Pro-Filipino digital TV standard

With the Philippines’ looming migration from analog to digital terrestrial television (DTT) broadcast, limited channel options, signal interruptions and poor-quality image and audio will soon be things of the past. 

Digital TV viewing will introduce an all-new improved experience with multiple channels per frequency, high-quality image and sound, and other exciting functionalities. 

And, among the existing DTT standards available today, Japan’s Integrated Service Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) is what the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), the country’s foremost broadcast media organization, believes to be the one that will best serve the interest of Filipinos. 

According to Atom Henares, chairman of the KBP Television Committee, “ISDB is a pro-Filipino standard because it has features that can address better the needs of the Filipino viewers, not to mention that it costs less than DVB2, its European counterpart.” 

DVB2 or Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial2 is the second generation of Europe’s digital TV standard, DVB. 

Although, ISDB can carry less channels compared to DVB2, Henares believes ISDB’s capacity is enough to transmit channels that will be produced by broadcast networks. 

What’s more, Henares stressed, Filipinos don’t have to pay more just to have the extra number of channels that might just end up unused by the networks. The set-top box required for analog TV sets to receive digital signal for DVB-T2 is 60 percent more expensive than that of ISDB. 

With ISDB, a frequency can carry up to eight channels, which, when already rolled out, can provide Filipino viewers with up to 176 free-to-air tv channels that will allow broadcast networks to produce more channels that can cater to different market segments and specific interests. 

Another feature of ISDB is its mobility. All handheld devices like mobile phones and small TV sets that can receive digital signals will be able to receive digital broadcast. This is in contrast to DVB2 where mobility is just an option and not all devices can receive its signal unless customized to do so. 

“Filipinos are always on the go and with ISDB, you can watch your favorite TV programs even when on the road,” said Henares. 

ISDB also features a data transmission feature that allows broadcast networks to flash data at the TV screen of the viewers. 

This feature can be utilized in weather forecasting and government announcements. It can also be very helpful during emergency situations given that the Philippines is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, making the country prone to earthquake and volcanic eruptions, as well as in the Intertropical Convergence Zone, which brings storms and typhoons all year round. 

“It is also ISDB that already has seen test broadcasts by some TV networks,” said Henares. 

Engr. Antonio M. Leduna, Chief Technology Officer of National Broadcasting Network (NBN) said, “Since we began test broadcast on ISDB in 2009, signal was robust and there was no degradation in the quality of the images and sound. 

NBN has tried broadcasting in both high and standard definitions and has also utilized the emergency warning and data casting features of ISDB. Their programs can also be viewed in hand held devices. 

Net 25 and GEM TV have also tried broadcasting in ISDB since early 2008. 

According to Engr. Cesar Villadiego, Head of Engineering of Net 25, “We haven’t experienced any problems in our digital transmission. In fact, all our programs are still broadcast in high definition using ISDB.” 

More than the features of ISDB, the Philippines will also benefit from migrating to the DTT standard as Japan promised funding and technical support for the country’s digital tv migration. 

“The Japanese government has earlier said it will support the country’s transition into the DTT era by, among other things, setting up a factory here in the country for the manufacturing of set-top boxes. 

This will create jobs for Filipinos and make the equipment more accessible,” said Henares. - PNA, dated 30 June 2011, 01:34 P.M.

Source: National Broadcasting Network

ScreenAfrica: Philippines urged to adopt DVB-T2

A joint delegation of the Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) industry led consortium and European Union representatives have met with The Philippines’ National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to present the technical superiority of the DVB-T2 digital terrestrial television (DTT) standard over the dated Japanese ISDB-T system. 

Screen Africa readers will recall how last year former South African Minister of Communications Siphiwe Nyanda called for a review of the cabinet-adopted DVB-T standard in favour of ISDB-T against industry wishes. Siphiwe’s successor formally announced in November 2010 that South Africa would adopt the second generation DVB-T2 for its digital migration. 

In The Philippines, DVB and the EU presented the economic advantages and benefits of the economies of scale of DVB-T2. They hope that the NTC will reconsider its deadline of 30 June for its final decision on the adoption of a digital standard. The delegation called for a proper DVB-T2 field trial to be held so that a full comparison can be made of the competing standards. 

“It has been proven that under similar conditions, DVB-T2 either provides nearly 100% more payload or the transmitter power can be reduced by 8-10 dB, which results in a drastic decrease of capital investment and operational costs for the transmitter network. Owing to the significant success of DVB-T2, low cost STBs are already available for as little as 45 USD in UK retail stores. In addition, there are commercially available low cost DVB-T2 HD set-top boxes operating in 6 MHz channels, as required in the Philippines,” commented Peter Siebert, Executive Director, DVB. 

DVB-T2 is the world’s most advanced DTT system offering higher efficiency, robustness and flexibility than first generation DTT systems such as DVB-T and ISDB-T. It builds on the basis of DVB-T and by adding new modulation, coding and error correction techniques a dramatic efficiency increase is achieved over any other DTT system in the world. DVB-T2 also provides excellent performance for mobile reception. DVB-T2 supports the main frequency bandwidths of 6,7 and 8 MHz, covering all possible broadcasting scenarios around the world, including 6 MHz countries such as the Philippines. 

“The growing interest in DVB-T2 around the world seems to be a symptom of mature thinking. Countries are now looking for the best long-term solution, rather than a quick-fix using inferior technologies. This trend definitely favours DVB-T2,” said Phil Laven, Chairman, DVB. 

Since the first DVB-T2 services were launched in December 2009 in the UK, 2010 and early 2011 have seen services launched in Italy, Sweden and Finland. The total number of countries that have declared their intention to deploy the state-of-the-art second-generation digital terrestrial television (DTT) transmission system now stands at a remarkable 28. In the Asian region, India, Singapore and Sri Lanka have chosen DVB-T2 and tests have been carried out in Malaysia and Thailand. - dated 30 June 2011, 01:02 PM

Source: Screen Africa

Manila Bulletin: KBP bats for cheaper Japanese standard for local digital television

As far as KBP members know how ISDB-T is going through, NBN and Gem TV broadcasters expressed their proud and confident say that their ISDB-T transmission is still not yet encountering any problems at all. Remember, those two networks are the first among Philippine broadcasters to trial ISDB-T since 2008. And in fact, Gem HD still transmits high definition signals as of this writing on Channel 49, which we can say the first TV network to migrate into digital terrestrial TV. Read post after the jump.

MANILA, Philippines — Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), an umbrella association of local broadcast media continues to lobby for adopting the Japanese digital television standard in the country, instead of the more expensive European standard. 

Among the existing DTT standards available today, Japan’s Integrated Service Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) costs less than Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial2 (DVB2), its European counterpart, according to Atom Henares, chairman of the KBP Television Committee. 

DVB2 is the second generation of Europe’s digital tv standard, DVB. It can carry more channels than ISDB. However, he believes ISDB’s capacity is enough to transmit channels that will be produced by broadcast networks. 

“Filipinos don’t have to pay more just to have the extra number of channels that might just end up unused by the networks. The set-top box required for analog TV sets to receive digital signal for DVB-T2 is 60 percent more expensive than that of ISDB,” Henares explained. 

With ISDB, a frequency can carry up to eight channels which, when already rolled out, can provide Filipino viewers with up to 176 free-to-air tv channels that will allow broadcast networks to produce more channels that can cater to different market segments and specific interests. 

Another feature of ISDB is its mobility. All handheld devices like mobile phones and small TV sets that can receive digital signals will be able to receive digital broadcast. This is in contrast to DVB2 where mobility is just an option and not all devices can receive its signal unless customized to do so. 

“Filipinos are always on the go and with ISDB, they can watch their favorite TV programs even on the road,” he pointed out. 

ISDB also has a data transmission feature that allows broadcast networks to flash data at the TV screen of the viewers. This can be used in weather forecasting and government announcements. It can also be very helpful during emergency situations given that the Philippines is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, making the country prone to earthquake and volcanic eruptions, as well as in the Intertropical Convergence Zone, which brings storms and typhoons all year round. 

“Since we began test broadcast on ISDB in 2009, signal was robust and there was no degradation in the quality of the images and sound,” says Engr. Antonio M. Leduna, Chief Technology Officer of National Broadcasting Network (NBN). 

NBN has tried broadcasting in both high and standard definitions and has also utilized the emergency warning and data casting features of ISDB. Their programs can also be viewed in hand held devices. 

Net 25 and GEM TV have also tried broadcasting in ISDB since early 2008. 

“We haven’t experienced any problems in our digital transmission. In fact, all our programs are still broadcast in high definition using ISDB,” according to Engr. Cesar Villadiego, Head of Engineering of Net 25. 

More than the features of ISDB, the Philippines will also benefit from migrating to the DTT standard as Japan promised funding and technical support for the country’s digital tv migration. 

“The Japanese government promised to support the country’s transition into the DTT era by setting up a factory here for the manufacturing of set-top boxes. This will create jobs for Filipinos and make the equipment more accessible,” concluded Henares. - Emmie V. Abadilla, dated 30 June 2011, 01:42 A.M.

Source: Manila Bulletin

Business World: KBP: Japanese digital TV standard better than European standard

For us at DTV Pilipinas, we are in favor of what standard will commercially and technically benefit the Filipinos, and not the broadcasters alone. With the advent of DVB-T2, which can produce as much as 2-3 high definition programs in one frequency, it is still enough for us Filipinos to have 1-2 HD programs being benefit by the Japanese ISDB-T standard, accumulating more than a hundred plus of standard definition programs available for the whole future DTV bandwidth. And now, Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas or KBP insists that it is enough for us to use ISDB-T rather than the fresh DVB-T2, aside from the channel allocations, the cost of every decoder device for T2 is 60% expensive compared to ISDB.

To think GMA Network, the only one that pushes T2 as the Philippines' DTV standard, is not a KBP member, the whole broadcast industry supports ISDB-T (along with ABS-CBN, which is ready to rollout its service this coming July, and TV5, which is also having test trials this coming July). Read post after the break.

THE KAPISANAN ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) said on Wednesday the Japanese digital television standard is better suited for the country than the upgraded European standard, citing cost concerns. 

"[A]mong the existing [digital terrestrial television (DTT)] standards available today, Japan's Integrated Service Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) is what the KBP... believes to be the one that will best serve the interest of the Filipinos," KBP said in a statement. 

Alfredo L. Henares, KBP chairman, said in the statement that rolling out the Japanese standard "costs less" than implementing the European Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial 2 (DVB-T2) standard. 

Among cost concerns, KBP said that DVB-T2 set-top boxes, which are required to be purchased by the public to allow analog TV sets to receive digital signals, cost "60% more expensive" than ISDB-T boxes. 

Despite admitting that the European standard will allow broadcasters to carry more channels as compared to the Japanese standard, Mr. Henares said in the statement that the channels will be enough for the broadcast networks. 

Already, the ISDB-T will be able to provide Filipinos up to 176 free-to-air TV channels, KBP said. - Kathleen A. Martin, dated 29 June 2011, 10:56 A.M.

Source: Business World

Malaya: Europeans seek to wrest digital TV deal from Japan

A team from Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB), backed by the European Union delegation to the Philippines, met with officials of the National Telecommunications yesterday to pitch for the adoption of the digital TV standard DBT-2 instead of Japan’s ISDB-T (Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial). 

The DVB team claimed DBT-2 is the world’s most advanced technology and comes at an affordable price. 

The NTC last year signed a memorandum of agreement with Japanese developers to make ISDB-T the country’s standard in shifting to digital television, but the deal was put on hold recently by Malacañang to allow an evaluation of DBT-2. 

Whoever wins the fight for digital TV standard stands to gain royalty payments for every set of television using the technology. 

Japanese providers, however, said the royalties they will charge is minimal. It is more of national pride arising from global use that is at stake, they said. 

The shift to digital TV is scheduled to start this year, with the implementing rules due this month. But with the Palace directive to accommodate the Europeans’ wish to evaluate DBT-2, the shift is expected to be delayed. 

The country’s three broadcast firms are ready to migrate to digital terrestrial television anytime. GMA network said it would spend up to P600 million for the migration and ABS-CBN about P1 billion. TV5 has yet to disclose its investment on digital TV. 

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

"We have to think of the consumers, because television is public service. They have to take into account the consumers," Espinosa said. 

During the meeting with the NTC and a technical working group (TWG) yesterday, the EU asked for a sound and transparent review process, allowing all stakeholders to ask questions and to receive detailed information on standards available, including DVB-T2. 

The EU expressed its surprise that the TWG has not taken the initiative of organizing a hearing with DVB representatives. 

The EU suggested that broadcasters be given the opportunity to try DVB-T2 and compare its performance with the Japanese standard. 

The EU representatives formally asked the TWG to extend the deadline of the review process. 

In an earlier interview, Motohiko Kato, deputy and chief of mission of the Japanese embassy, said the Japanese standard is more advantageous than the European standard. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Atom Henares, chairman of the KBP Television Committee, earlier said digital television not only provides viewers with better image quality and clearer sound, but also allows for more content through more channels. This leads to bigger variety and more options for the viewers. 

"The majority of our households don’t have cable subscriptions, which confines their viewing experience to up to only 22 channels compared with up to 176 channels in digital terrestrial television," Henares said. 

Of the 22 channels, only three are being watched by approximately 80 percent of the market who do not subscribe to cable. This is clear proof of the limited choice viewers have in terms of programs and content, he said. 

Another significant feature of digital TV is its data broadcast capability and interactivity, which allow immediate data transmission to all users. This is particularly helpful in emergencies. - Irma Isip, dated 28 June 2011

Source: Malaya

News 5 InterAksyon: NTC tells EU: formalize bid to intervene in tech review for shift to digital TV

IN THE END, IT IS STILL THE COST. Read the post after the break.

MANILA, Philippines - Put it in writing, please. Philippine regulators will act on a request by the European Union to delay the deadline for the re-evaluation of the standards for the digital terrestrial television (DTT) broadcast service in the country once they get a formal request from the EU, National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) chief Gamaliel Cordoba said Tuesday. 

The NTC sought the formal request a day after a joint group from the EU delegation to the Philippines and Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) representatives made a presentation and asked for an extension. They were told that the technical working group is now working on the review of the standards and that any move to delay the process must be formalized. 

The review itself, announced two weeks ago by the NTC, had caused a stir in the industry because it meant that the much-awaited June 30 issuance of the implementing rules and regulations on the industry’s migration to digital TV would not be met. 

The NTC had directed its technical committee to re-evaluate the standards for the DTT broadcast service and to submit its findings on or before June 30. Cited as basis for the re-evaluation were “recent developments” pertaining to the endorsement by some players of the second-generation digital video broadcasting (DVB T2) from Europe, even though NTC earlier opted to adopt Japan’s Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Technology (ISDB-T) standard. The review panel was told to compare the two. 

Associated Broadcasting Corp. (ABC), which operates TV5, had served notice it will run trials in late June or early July for the DTT broadcast service, running on a platform endorsed by Japan’s largest mobile phone operator NTT DoCoMo. 

TV5 president Ray C. Espinosa said at that time, “We remain supportive of ISDB-T which we favorably endorsed to the NTC (National Telecommunications Commission) previously. Our letter to the NTC is to secure permission to do ISDB-T trials already and also to do comparison with DVB’s (Digital Video Broadcasting) T2.” 

EU wants 'sound, transparent' review 

In seeking to be heard in the review process, the EU indicated on Monday that it wanted a process that allows all stakeholders to ask questions and to receive detailed information on standards available, including DVB-T2, an updated and modernized version of DVB. 

The EU wondered aloud why the TWG did not organize a hearing with DVB representatives, noting that broadcasters should be given the chance to try DVB-T2 and compare its performance with the Japanese standard. 

The EU also asked Philippine regulators to consider recent developments with the rollout of DVB-T2 in Europe, Africa and Asia. At last week’s CommunicAsia/ BroadcastAsia, Singapore’s government declared it will start rolling out DVB-T2 before yearend. 

Cost an issue, too 

Cost, however, seems to play a key role in the preference of the industry for the Japanese ISDB, according to sources at the technical working group that is doing the review. 

Sources at the TWG said the cost of each set top box for the new version of the European standard is from $45 to $50. The Europeans have not offered come-ons dangled by the Japanese, who said they could manufacture the boxes here and even assist the Philippine government stations. If the ISDB platform were adopted, the set top box per unit will fetch only $15 each. 

Before the EU team came, the results of the review was expected to be announced soon by the TWG chaired by NTC deputy commissioner Jose Martinez. 

The end-June target for issuing the IRR for the transition to digital broadcasting will definitely not be met, though, officials said. 

Without the rules, industry players could not fully start the shift to digital TV. 

Japan’s ISDB-T platform is seen to provide more business opportunities because the bandwidth to be given to digital TV can be used to service mobile phones. Emergency warning broadcasts to households are also possible with this technology. 

Some industry players, notably GMA Network, had touted the European DVB T2 as superior to Japan’s ISDB-T. 

Asked how NTT DoCoMo reacted to the NTC’s latest directive [to re-evaluate the ISDB and compare it with the European standard], TV5’s Espinosa said, “Our trials are meant for ISDB-T and we will simply compare the results with DVB.” 

NTT DoCoMo, he said, is in fact providing TV5 with valuable inputs. “NTT DoCoMo is providing us with their inputs on ISDB technology and implementation,” said Espinosa, who also sits on the board of directors of PLDT. 

TV5 is under MediaQuest Holdings Inc., the holding company of the PLDT retirement fund. PLDT is partly owned by NTT DoCoMo. 

Industry prods NTC on rules 

Earlier, the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) had urged the NTC to speed up the issuance of the IRR. 

Atom Henares, KBP’s TV committee chairman, had said the migration 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.” 

“It is important for NTC to already come out with the IRR because we are all trying to meet the deadline set to the Philippines by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU),” said Henares. “If we keep on delaying the release of IRR just because a new standard is released, we will be left out. Technology is always evolving non-stop. We need to address the needs of the Filipinos now,” added Henares. 

ITU is the global body mandating countries to adopt a new digital TV standard. The Philippines is a member. Even developed countries like Japan and the United States took almost 1-2 years to fully roll out digital broadcasting. 

Free-TV or non-cable households account for 90 percent of the total 17 million TV households in the country. With digital TV, each existing TV frequency in the country can air up to eight free-tv channels each. This means the country could end up with 176 total channels from its existing 22 TV frequencies. - Llewelyn Sanchez, dated 28 June 2010, 04:43 P.M.

Source: News5 InterAksyon 

I.T. Matters: Europeans make last-ditch appeal on digital TV standard

It seems something is lobbying the NTC's decision to finally go ISDB-T and dump DVB-T2 of the Europeans. Now, the representatives of the European Union and the Digital Video Broadcast Project presents its master of digital terrestrial TV standard to NTC, which they claim much advanced than the chosen Japanese ISDB-T. With this, the EU-DVB team tries to extend the NTC's deadline, but it'll go us much lag behind our fellow Southeast Asian countries, which compromised to switch-off all analog TV signals in the middle of 2015 and 2020.

Read post after the break.

REPRESENTATIVES of the European Union (EU) Delegation to the Philippines and of the Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) Project have asked the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to extend its deadline for deciding on the digital television standard the country will adopt in order to enable broadcast firms to test the European system.

In a statement on Monday, the EU said the NTC should extend its June 30 deadline, to allow broadcast firms to review the upgraded European standard (DVB-T2). 

The DVB Project, based in Geneva, Switzerland, is engaged in the development of the European digital TV standard. 

“[B]roadcasters should be given the opportunity to try DVB-T2 and compare its performance with the Japanese [Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial, or ISDB-T] standard,” the EU said. 

The statement said the EU-DVB team presented its proposal during a meeting yesterday of NTC’s technical working group that is reviewing prospective digital TV standards the country can adopt. The meeting was held in the NTC headquarters in Quezon City. 

“The [group] asked the NTC…to consider recent compelling developments on this issue, with the rollout of the new leapfrog technology, DVB-T2, in Europe, Africa and Asia,” EU said.

The EU-led team added that Singapore had announced earlier this month that it would start rolling out DVB-T2 before the end of the year. 

“A decision in favor of DVB-T2 in the Philippines would enable consumers, broadcasters and regulatory authorities to benefit from the most world’s advanced TV technology at an affordable price,” EU claimed in its statement. 

The country aims to complete its shift to digital TV by 2015. 

Citing industry support, NTC said in June last year that it had chosen the Japanese standard over Europe’s DVB technology. 

In the wake of a recommendation from a committee in the House of Representatives, the NTC decided on May 26 to conduct a review, aiming to complete it by the end of this month. 

NTC Commissioner Gamaliel A. Cordoba said in a telephone interview yesterday that the implementing rules for digital TV rollout are “almost finished” and should be published early next month. - Kathleen A. Martin, dated 28 June 2011.

Source: I.T. Matters

Manila Times: Fresh delay expected for rules on digital TV migration

We've posted earlier on our page that something that will change the course of the history of Philippine broadcasting this coming June 30. But it is likely to not meet the target date for the Technical Working Group to finish the rules and regulations for DTV transition as the review of the two standards still hangs in the clothesline until being submitted to President Aquino the technical and commercial specifications suited for the country.

Read the post after the break.

RULES for the country’s migration to digital terrestrial TV could be delayed as the regulator’s technical working group has yet to decide on the review criteria for the adoption of the standard. 

During a meeting held on Wednesday, Carlo Jose Martinez, National Telecommunications Commission deputy commissioner, said the agency wants the review of Japan’s Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial and Europe’s Digital Video Broadcasting-Second Generation Terrestrial “over immediately” as a report should be submitted to President Aquino by June 23. 

Martinez said the original deadline of the “paper review” for the two digital TV platforms was on May 31 but was extended because of the differences on how the review process should be done. 

“The time given by the President for us to review is that we can only conduct a paper review, because the actual field testing would take two to six months. But if the President wants to conduct a complete review then we will need additional time. We have to report to Malacañang the TWG recommendation on June 23. After that, let the President decide,” Martinez said. 

Last year, the regulator issued an order adopting Japan’s ISDB-T as the standard. But some broadcasting companies requested another look at Europe’s DVB-T2. 

A representative of ABS-CBN Corp. wants technical and commercial aspects as criteria in choosing the standard for the country’s migration to digital TV. 

Martinez said the TWG will meet again next week to set the criteria and to complete the review.

In a document obtained by this reporter, the NTC said that Europe’s DVB-T2 is “technically better, [but] commercially it’s a different story.” 

The NTC said the current price of DVB-T2 set top boxes is 58 percent higher than the $45 price tag on the unit required by Japan’s ISDB-T. 

The regulator said the adoption of the European standard would mean another long delay. 

Martinez said the June 30 target date for the issuance of Implementing Rules and Regulations is unlikely to be met because of the delays in review. 

The country had planned to migrate from analog to digital TV come 2015. 

Free-TV or non-cable households comprise 90 percent of the total 17 million in the country. - Darwin G. Amolejar, dated 19 June 2011.

Source: Manila Times 

Malaya: ABS-CBN to build P6B sound stages

The largest multimedia conglomerate in the Philippines, ABS-CBN, is investing billions of pesos in acquiring and developing sound stages for their future TV productions. Those sound stages are designed to show remote setup inside a studio. The complex will house six state-of-the-air studios as large as the US broadcaster CBS' sound stages. Eugenio Lopez III said that this will be one of the steps towards migration to digital terrestrial TV, offering more channels on free TV and producing more programs for those premium free TV channels included in their DTV package.

Read post after the break.

Lopez-controlled ABS-CBN Corp. is investing about P6 billion in a state-of-the-art sound stage facility that will reduce production costs, an official said.

The facility is expected to be completed in three years.

Eugenio Lopez III, ABS-CBN chairman and chief executive, said the company has acquired a 15-hectare property in Novaliches, Quezon City, worth P75 million for the sound stages.

The first two of six sound stages are expected to be completed this year at a cost of P3 billion.

Lopez said the company has been spending P100 million annually for location rentals alone, which make up 80 percent of total production costs.

Studios account for the remaining 20 percent.

Lopez said the company wants to reverse the proportion in favor of studios.

"We also want the state-of-the-art facility to attract foreign tourists who want to shoot their programs in the sound stage," he said.

Lopez said the Novaliches site will house sets for airports, hospitals, schools, theme parks and the like.

The completion of the facility is timely to the industry’s migration of the digital terrestrial television. "We need to produce more content and programs for additional channels," Lopez said.

Lopez said he expects the consumer segment to overtake the growth in advertising. At present, 60 percent of revenues come from ads and 40 percent from the consumer segment.

"Our future is really in consumers," he added.

Part of consumer segment growth would come from the global channels as subscribers’ shift to internet protocol television.

Lopez said the plan is for ABS-CBN to move 80 percent to 100 percent of its overseas subscribers to internet TV in the next five years so they can watch Kapamilya programs anytime.

Rolando Valdueza, ABS-CBN chief operating officer, expressed optimism that, despite the absence of political advertisements this year, income would reach P3 billion this year on the back of higher ratings and strong ad revenues.

In the first quarter, ABS-CBN posted P976 million in net income, down 10 percent from the same period last year due to the absence of political advertisements.

In the same period, ABS-CBN posted consolidated revenue of P6.6 billion from advertising and consumer sales, a 15 percent decline from a year ago.

Less revenues from political advocacies and advertisements in the first quarter of 2010, consolidated revenues in the first quarter of this year increased 3 percent. - Myla Iglesias, dated 16 June 2011

Source:  Malaya

Manila Times: NTC to reallocate frequencies

It seems NTC will reallocate the UHF Channels 14-20 for the launching of digital TV broadcast. Remember those channels are still used for bank communications. It was proposed earlier that those channels, whenever they're allocated for DTV, will be used by the national broadcasters for the use of Single Frequency Network, where one channel is being used throughout the whole country (compared to what we've been using for analog TV which is the Multiple Frequency Network).

Also, the UHF band for TV is proposed to be at Channels 14-51, which is far different from those allocations defined in the KBP standards for analog TV broadcasting of Channels 14-62. Read the post after the article.

THE National Telecommunications Commission plans to reallocate frequencies assigned to fixed and mobile service for digital terrestrial TV use in preparation for the country’s migration away from the analog platform. 

In a text message, Carlo Jose Martinez, NTC deputy commissioner, said the technical working group is still discussing the use of Channels 14 to 20 (470 to 512 megahertz) for digital TV. 

At present, the said channels are assigned to fixed/mobile service. 

According to Martinez, the technical working group is looking into the need to compensate those who will be affected and their eventual migration to another frequency. 

The NTC may also consider the ultra high frequency TV Channels 14 to 51 (470 to 698 Mhz) for allocation to digital TV broadcast service. 

The agency is reviewing which digital TV platform is better for the country: Japan’s Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) or Europe’s Digital Video Broadcasting-Second Generation Terrestrial (DVB-T2). 

Last year, the regulator issued an order adopting Japanese ISDB-T as the standard. But some broadcasting companies requested for another look at Europe’s DVB-T2. 

In a document obtained by this reporter, the NTC said that Europe’s DVB-T2 is “technically better, [but] commercially it’s a different story.” 

The NTC said the current price of DVB-T2 set top boxes is 58 percent higher than the $45 price tag on the unit required by Japan’s ISDB-T. 

The regulator said the adoption of the European standard would mean another long delay. 

The NTC expects to issue the implementing rules and regulations for digital TV next month.

The country had planned to migrate from analog to digital TV come 2015. 

Free-TV or non-cable households comprise 90 percent of the total 17 million in the country. - Darwin G. Amolejar, dated 14 June 2011

Source: Manila Times

Manila Standard Today: NTC order worries Japan

The Japanese government and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas have expressed disappointment over the slow pace of digital TV rollout in the Philippines. 

“Of course, we are frustrated but we have no choice. That is an important decision, so we just have to quietly keep an eye on discussions,” deputy chief of mission Motohiko Kato of the Japanese Embassy told Manila Standard in an interview.

He said the state order to review the digital TV platform and consider the second version of European’s digital video broadcasting technology was “understandable” amid a change in administration. The National Telecommunications Commission earlier picked Japan’s integrated services digital broadcasting technology over the European model in June 2010.

“Unfortunately, the platform was chosen when the Arroyo administration is about to end. The new administration wants to check what happened just in time when a new European technology emerged,” Kato said.

“It was not done behind the scene. It is really a transparent transaction,” he added, referring to the NTC’s decision to choose the Japanese technology.

Kato cited the need to finalize the rules and choose an official platform for digital TV, saying the Philippines was now “far behind the trend of digitalization.”

He said Japan’s ISDB-T has been adopted in Ecuador, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Bolivia and Uruguay last year. Japan is also in talks with Thailand and Indonesia on the adoption of ISDB-T in their transition to digital TV.

Kato said neighboring countries were closely observing the digital TV developments in the Philippines before making a final decision on the platform.

He said Japan’s ISDB-T was still superior over the newer version of the European technology. Japan’s platform, he said, helped during the recent tsunami phenomenon in Japan by sending emergency alarm via mobile TV.

“We are patiently waiting for the conclusion and hoping that the Japanese technology will be adopted at the end of the day,” Kato said.

KBP television committee chairman Atom Henares stressed the need to migrate to digital broadcasting.

“It is important for NTC to already come out with the IRR because we are all trying to meet the deadline set to the Philippines by the International Telecommunication Union,” Henares said.

He said some industry players had already prepared for digital TV after the issuance of a circular on the platform in June last year. - Jeremiah F. De Guzman, dated 10 June 2011

Source: Manila Standard Today

Malaya: The long wait for digital TV

Television networks are ready to provide viewers without cable connections the wonders of digital television, but they cannot roll out the new service because the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has yet to come up with the rules on digital transmission.

Atom Henares, chairman of the KBP Television Committee, said digital television not only provides viewers with better image quality and clearer sound, but also allows for more content through more channels. This leads to bigger variety and more options for the viewers.

"The majority of our households don’t have cable subscriptions, which confines their viewing experience to up to only 22 channels compared with up to 176 channels in digital terrestrial television (DTT)," Henares said.

Of the 22 channels, only three are being watched by approximately 80 percent of the market who do not subscribe to cable. This is clear proof of the limited choice viewers currently have in terms of programs and content, he said.

Another significant feature of DTT is its data broadcast capability and interactivity, which allow immediate data transmission to all DTT users. This is particularly helpful in emergencies.

The urgent need to migrate to digital broadcasting is being pushed by non-KBP member broadcast networks as well.

Engineer Antonio M. Leduna, chief technology officer of National Broadcasting Network, said: "If we keep delaying the release of implementing rules and regulations (IRR) just because a new standard (is being readied), we will be left out. Technology is always evolving non-stop. We need to address the needs of the Filipinos now."

Henares said: "It is important for NTC to come out with the IRR because we are all trying to meet the deadline set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU)."

ITU is the global body mandating countries to adopt a new digital TV standard. Countries like United States and Japan took almost 10 years to fully roll out digital broadcasting.

The IRR is expected to be finalized this month.

Gamaliel Cordoba, NTC commissioner, however said the release could be delayed after Malacañang ordered a review of the technology to be adopted.

A technical working group composed of stakeholders in the television broadcast industry, including the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), National Economic and Development Authority and Department of Trade and Industry, are comparing a new European technology to the Japanese standard proposed by the NTC.

NTC chose Japan’s Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) but before the contract could be signed Malacañang ordered the review. – Myla Iglesias, dated 10 June 2011.

Source: Malaya

ABS-CBN News: KBP backs rollout of digital terrestrial TV

MANILA, Philippines - The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) said Filipino viewers would benefit the most once digital terrestrial television (DTT) broadcasting is rolled out.   

But before broadcast networks can roll out, they still have to wait for the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to finish the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) that will set the ground rules and provisions to guide broadcast networks in operating under digital transmission.

According to Atom Henares, chairman of the KBP Television Committee, DTT provides for a wide variety of features that Filipinos can enjoy once they roll out DTT.

Digital technology not only provides Filipinos with better image quality and clearer sound, but it also allows for more content through more channels. This gives way for more variety and options for the viewers.

“Majority of our households don’t have cable subscriptions which confine their viewing experience to up to only 22 channels compared to up to 176 channels in DTT. Being stuck in the analog age of television limits the viewing experience of Filipinos,” Henares explained.

Of the 22 channels, only three are being watched by approximately 80 percent of the market. This is a clear proof of the limited choices the Filipinos currently have in terms of programs and content.

Another significant feature of DTT is its data broadcast capability and interactivity, which allows for immediate data transmission to all DTT users. This is particularly helpful in emergency situations.

Migrating to DTT also makes viewing for Filipinos easier anywhere with its mobility. Several mobile phones are already available in the market that can receive DTT signals, allowing users to watch while on the go. The urgent need to migrate to digital broadcasting is being pushed by other non-KBP member broadcast networks as well.

Antonio Leduna, chief technology officer of National Broadcasting Network (NBN), said with DTT, “the public could be served better with better reception and quality."

NBN has been test broadcasting using digital transmission since 2009 and has not since experienced any interruption or problems with their reception. Other networks that are currently testing digital broadcast are Gem TV and Net 25.

Henares said it is important for NTC to already come out with the IRR because we are all trying to meet the deadline set to the Philippines by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)."

ITU is the global body, to which the Philippines is a member of, mandating countries to adopt a new digital TV standard. Countries like United States and Japan took almost 10 years to fully roll out digital broadcasting. - Mary Ann Ll. Reyes, The Philippine Star, dated 10 June 2011, 06:54 AM

Source: ABS-CBN News

Manila Bulletin: Digital Terrestial TV groundrules sought

MANILA, Philippines — By now, telecom regulators should come up with the long-delayed ground rules for Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT), broadcasters urged. 

Filipino viewers would benefit the most once networks operate under digital transmission, according to the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP). However, to date, networks cannot roll out DTT because the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has not finished its implementing rules and regulations (IRR). 

After a four-year review on existing standards being used by other countries, NTC released its memorandum circular No. 02-06-2010 adopting a standard to be used in the country a year ago. 

Immediately after the release of the memorandum, some industry players have already prepared to be DTT-ready. But before NTC can finalize the IRR, another review must be done, on the orders of the House of Representatives. 

“NTC must come out with the IRR now because the Philippines has to meet the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) deadline,” urged Atom Henares, KBP Television Committee Chairman. “If we keep on delaying the IRR’s release, we’ll be left out. Technology evolves non-stop. We need to address the needs of the Filipinos now.” 

ITU is the global body which mandates countries to adopt a new digital TV standard. Still, even the United States and Japan took almost ten years to fully roll out digital broadcasting. 

The IRR is expected to be finalized this month, if the latest review will not affect the NTC circular containing its choice of DTT standard. 

Digital technology not only provides Filipinos with better image quality and clearer sound, but also allows for more variety and viewer options via more content and more channels. 

“Majority of local households don’t have cable subscriptions. They are confined to only 22 channels compared to up to 176 channels in DTT. Being stuck in the analog age limits Filipinos, viewing experience of Filipinos,” he explained. - Emmie V. Abadilla, dated 10 June 2011, 01:38 AM

Source: Manila Bulletin 

NBN: Broadcast industry calls for early release of digital TV rules

Members of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) said Filipino viewers would benefit the most once Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) broadcasting is rolled out.

But before broadcast networks can roll out, they still have to wait for the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to finish the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) that will set the ground rules and provisions to guide broadcast networks in operating under digital transmission.

On Thursday, Atom Henares, chairman of the KBP Television Committee, declared DTT provides for a wide variety of features that Filipinos can enjoy once they roll out DTT.

Digital technology not only provides Filipinos with better image quality and clearer sound, but it also allows for more content through more channels. This gives way for more variety and options for the viewers.

“Majority of our households don’t have cable subscriptions which confine their viewing experience to up to only 22 channels compared to up to 176 channels in DTT. Being stuck in the analog age of television limits the viewing experience of Filipinos,” Henares said.

Of the 22 channels, only three are being watched by approximately 80 percent of the market. This is a clear proof of the limited choices the Filipinos currently have in terms of programs and content.

Another significant feature of DTT is its data broadcast capability and interactivity, which allows for immediate data transmission to all DTT users. This is particularly helpful in emergency situations.

Migrating to DTT also makes viewing for Filipinos easier anywhere with its mobility. Several mobile phones are already available in the market that can receive DTT signals, allowing its users to watch while on the go.

The urgent need to migrate to digital broadcasting is being pushed by other non-KBP member broadcast networks as well.

Engineer Antonio M. Leduna, chief technology officer of the National Broadcasting Network (NBN), says, “With DTT, the public could be served better with better reception and quality.”

NBN has been test broadcasting using digital transmission since 2009 and has not since experienced any interruption or problems with their reception. Other networks that are currently testing digital broadcast are Gem TV and Net 25.

Henares said, “It is important for NTC to already come out with the IRR because we are all trying to meet the deadline set to the Philippines by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).”

ITU is the global body, to which the Philippines is a member of, mandating countries to adopt a new digital TV standard. Countries like the United States and Japan took almost 10 years to fully roll out digital broadcasting.

NTC already released in June last year its memorandum circular No. 02-06-2010 adopting a standard to be used in the country. This was the result of the four-year review done by the commission on existing standards being used by other countries.

Immediately after the release of the memorandum, some industry players have already prepared to be DTT-ready.

But before NTC can finalize the IRR, another review must be done first as per order of the House of Representatives as a new standard is made available.

“If we keep on delaying the release of IRR just because a new standard is released, we will be left out. Technology is always evolving non-stop. We need to address the needs of the Filipinos now,” stressed Henares.

The IRR is expected to be finalized by June of this year, granted that the latest review will not affect the NTC circular containing its choice of DTT standard.

Leduna added that the reaction they always get when they demo digital broadcast to a group of people is, "When will it be available to us?"

Said Henares, “All the industry needs now is the IRR for them to fully prepare to roll out digital broadcast.” - PNA, dated 09 June 2011, 06:44 PM

Source: National Broadcasting Network

News 5 InterAksyon: TV5 to run digital broadcasting trials on Japanese platform

Its been the first time we've had an article from the third biggest TV network, TV5, about transition to digital terrestrial TV. Remember, ABS-CBN had launched officially its DTT service last April to push the governing body on rules and regulations regarding DTT broadcasts. Since now, the National Telecommunications Commission is expected to release the IRR on or before June 30.

As the Technical Working Group (TWG) deliberates the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), GMA Network expressed to review another new standard that is the best among all DTV standards in the world, the DVB-T2. Pangilinan-owned network supports the review made by the TWG, as well as ABS-CBN, which for them is any standard will do. But still, TV5 managed to support ISDB-T throughout the years passed.

When TV5 goes Kapatid Network, it includes a booth of ISDB-T in their trade launch back in 2009. They showcased TVs in High Definition and three Standard Definition platforms, which also includes pamphlets and DVDs featuring how ISDB-T and digital TV works.

Photo courtesy of Zen Honbu PH and PinoyEXchange.

And as of 2011, TV5, in partnership with Japan's NTT DoCoMo, one of the world's largest telecommunications company, is ready to rollout its digital television service, maybe this year or early 2012. With this, TV5 can better improve its broadcast transmission using the 1seg capability (the famous mobile TV for cellphones in Japan) that is included in the ISDB-T transmission.

Update (12 June 2011): It is possible that TV5, in partnership with PLDT-Smart, may bring those NTT DoCoMo phones with built-in 1seg mobile TV tuners here in the Philippines to cater Filipinos a new and interactive way of viewing digital TV.

Read post after the break.

MANILA, Philippines – While regulators hold off on the issuance of digital TV rules to look anew at technology updates, the Associated Broadcasting Corp. (ABC), which operates TV5, served notice it will run trials for the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) broadcast service, running on a platform endorsed by Japan’s largest mobile phone operator NTT DoCoMo. 

TV5 president Ray Espinosa said Thursday the network plans to conduct the Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Technology (ISDB-T) trials in late June or first week of July. “We remain supportive of ISDB-T which we favorably endorsed to the NTC (National Telecommunications Commission) previously. Our letter to the NTC is to secure permission to do ISDB-T trials already and also to do comparison with DVB’s (Digital Video Broadcasting) T2,” he said. 

His reaction was sought a day after the NTC directed its technical committee to re-evaluate the standards for the DTT broadcast service and to submit its findings on or before June 30, a move expected to delay the issuance of the NTC’s implementing rules and regulations (IRR) on the industry’s migration to digital TV. 

Citing “recent developments” pertaining to the endorsement by some players of the second-generation digital video broadcasting (DVB T2) from Europe, NTC chief Gamaliel Cordoba had issued an office order directing the technical committee to re-evaluate the standards for the DTT broadcast service, even though it earlier opted to adopt Japan’s ISDB standard, and to compare the two. 

Japan ’s ISDB-T platform is seen to provide more business opportunities because the bandwidth to be given  to digital TV can be used to service mobile phones. Emergency warning broadcasts to households are also possible with this technology.  

Some industry players, notably GMA Network,  had touted, however, the European DVB T2 as superior to Japan’s  ISDB-T.

Asked how NTT DoCoMo reacted to the NTC’s latest directive [to re-evaluate the ISDB and compare it with the European standard], Espinosa said, “Our trials are meant for ISDB-T and we will simply compare the results with DVB.”

NTT DoCoMo, he said, is in fact providing TV5 with valuable inputs. “NTT DoCoMo is providing us with their inputs on ISDB technology and implementation,” said Espinosa, who also sits on the board of directors of PLDT. 

TV5 is under MediaQuest Holdings Inc., the holding company of  the PLDT retirement fund. PLDT is partly owned by NTT DoCoMo. 

Industry prods NTC on rules

Meanwhile, the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) urged the NTC to speed up the issuance of the IRR embodying the provisions that will guide broadcast networks in operating under digital transmission. 

With NTC’s belated review of the standards for the DTT broadcast service, it is deemed unlikely to be able to meet the end-June target for releasing the IRR for the transition to digital broadcasting. 

“The IRR is almost done. We just have to indicate in the IRR the technology that we will adopt. Of course, we can’t issue the rules yet if we haven’t fully decided yet on the technology but the technical aspects are almost done already,” NTC’s Cordoba said. 

Last month, the Television Committee of the KBP prodded the NTC to issue the IRR as soon as possible. 

Atom Henares, KBP’s TV committee chairman, had elaborated on the significance of the  migration to digital, saying this  “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.” 

“It is important for NTC to already come out with the IRR because we are all trying to meet the deadline set to the Philippines by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU),” said Atom Henares, chairman of the KBP Television Committee. 

“If we keep on delaying the release of IRR just because a new standard is released, we will be left out. Technology is always evolving non-stop. We need to address the needs of the Filipinos now,” stressed Henares. 

ITU is the global body mandating countries to adopt a new digital TV standard. The Philippines is a member. Even developed countries like Japan and the United States took almost 1- years to fully roll out digital broadcasting. 

Free-TV or non-cable households account for 90 percent of the total 17 million TV households in the country. With digital TV, each existing TV frequency in the country can air up to eight free-tv channels each. This means the country could end up with 176 total channels from its existing 22 TV frequencies. - Llewelyn Sanchez, dated 09 June 2011, 05:43 PM.

Source: News 5 InterAksyon

News 5 InterAksyon: Technical review stalls issuance of IRR for shift to digital TV

MANILA, Philippines - The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has mandated a review of the standards for the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) broadcast service, and thus will not be able to meet the end-June target for releasing the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the transition to digital broadcasting.

Industry players cannot fully start the shift to digital TV until the IRR is released.

NTC chief Gamaliel Cordoba issued an office order dated May 26 directing the technical committee to re-evaluate the standards for the DTT broadcast service even though it earlier opted to adopt Japan’s Japanese Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting (ISDB) standard.

Japan ’s ISDB-T platform is seen to provide more business opportunities because the bandwidth to be given to digital TV can be used to service mobile phones. Emergency warning broadcasts to households are also possible with this technology.

The Philippine government and Japan, though, have thus far signed no agreement yet on the matter.

Cordoba’s order explained the decision to hold off on the IRR despite the favorable earlier verdict on Japan’s platform by citing the possibly superior European model: “In light of the recent developments in digital television broadcasting, a technical committee is hereby created for the purpose of re-evaluating the standards for DTT. The committee shall be tasked to look into the latest developments in the DTT service, to include the emergence of 2nd generation DTT standards and an update on the prevailing market price of DTT set-top boxes, among others.”

The “latest developments” pertain to the second-generation Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB2) from Europe that other broadcasting firms support.

The committee has been given until June 30 to turn in a written report of its findings. Since the NTC had earlier also targeted end-June for issuing the IRR, that deadline would obviously not be met, officials said.

“The IRR is almost done. We just have to indicate in the IRR the technology that we will adopt. Of course, we can’t issue the rules yet if we haven’t fully decided yet on the technology but the technical aspects are almost done already,” Cordoba said.

Cordoba hoped the IRR can be completed as soon as the technical panel completes its review of the possible shift to the European platform.

Industry players have described DVB2 as superior to Japan’s ISDB. “GMA has been vocal in saying that it prefers the second generation of DVB. TV5 also wrote us stating its support for the review. So, we think that it’s best to explore everything before we decide,” said the NTC chief.

NTC deputy commissioner Carlo Jose Martinez heads the technical review panel, which has as members the representatives from the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), Commission on Information and Communications Technology, NTC, ABC Development Corp., ABS-CBN Corp., Aliw Broadcasting Corp., Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Media, Inc., Christian Era Broadcasting Service, Inc., Department of Trade and Industry, Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection, Eagle Broadcasting Corp., and Zoe Broadcasting Network Inc.

Last month, the Television Committee of the KBP prodded the NTC to issue the IRR as soon as possible.

Atom Henares, KBP’s TV committee chairman, had elaborated on the significance of the migration to digital, saying this “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.”

Free-TV or non-cable households account for 90 percent of the total 17 million TV households in the country. With digital TV, each existing TV frequency in the country can air up to eight free-tv channels each. This means the country could end up with 176 total channels from its existing 22 TV frequencies.

Regulators earlier indicated they will follow Japan’s model of a phased transition. “They started with Tokyo then Osaka and then followed by other major cities. The TWG (technical working group) has yet to identify which cities will start the digital TV shift but maybe we could start with Manila, Cebu, Davao, among others,” NTC’s Martinez said. - Llewelyn Sanchez, dated 08 June 2011, 05:01 PM

Source: News5 InterAksyon

 

Business Mirror: NTC not likely to meet June target to set digital TV rules

Well, we've been expecting this one, since the Big 3 supports for a standard review. Still, NTC finished the IRR (Implementing Rules and Regulations) but they just lack one thing, the standard to impose. Remember, any TV network cannot start the digital terrestrial television service when the IRR is still not official.

Read the article after the break.

THE National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is not likely to meet the end-June target in issuing the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the country’s transition to digital broadcasting.    

In an office order issued by NTC chief Gamaliel Cordoba dated May 26, the agency tasked the technical committee to re-evaluate the standards for the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) broadcast service even as it earlier opted to adopt Japan’s Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting (ISDB) standard. However, no agreement has been signed yet between the Philippine government and Japan.

“In light of the recent developments in digital television broadcasting, a technical committee is hereby created for the purpose of re-evaluating the standards for DTT. The committee shall be tasked to look into the latest developments in DTT service, to include the emergence of second-generation standards and an update on the prevailing market price of DTT set-top boxes, among others,” the order stated.

The NTC was referring to the second-generation Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB2) from Europe which other broadcasting firms, including GMA Network, are supporting.

The committee was ordered to submit a report of its findings on or before June 30. Incidentally, the NTC was earlier targeting June for the release of the said IRRs. Without the rules, industry players cannot fully start the shift to digital TV.

“The IRRs [are] almost done. We just have to indicate in the IRRs the technology that we will adopt. Of course, we can’t issue the rules yet if we haven’t fully decided yet on the technology but the technical aspects are almost done already,” he said in an interview.

Once the review on the possible shift to the European platform is concluded this month, Cordoba said the issuance of the IRRs will come in next. “Probably, everything will be okay by July,” he said.

DVB2 has been touted by industry players as superior to Japan’s ISDB. “GMA [Network] has been vocal in saying that it prefers the second-generation DVB. TV5 also wrote us stating its support for the review. We think that it’s best to explore everything before we decide,” added the NTC commissioner.

The technical committee is chaired by NTC deputy commissioner Jose Martinez. The members are composed of representatives from the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), Commission on Information and Communications Technology, NTC, ABC Development Corp., ABS-CBN Corp., Aliw Broadcasting Corp., Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Media, Inc., Christian Era Broadcasting Service, Inc., Department of Trade and Industry, Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection, Eagle Broadcasting Corp. and Zoe Broadcasting Network Inc.

Last month, the television committee of the KBP urged the NTC not to delay the issuance of the IRRs. 

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.”

  

Households not connected to any cable TV subscription (also called free TV) comprise 90 percent of the total 17 million 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 a total of 176 channels from the existing 22 free TV frequencies.

The NTC is eyeing the implementation of digital television service, starting with select key cities in the country, by 2012. The regulator wants the shift to be implemented it in phases, the same way Japan imposed the change, NTC deputy commissioner Carlo Jose Martinez said.

Japan ’s ISDB-T platform is expected to provide more business opportunities because the bandwidth that will be assigned for digital TV can also be used to service mobile phones. The technology is also capable of sending emergency warning broadcasts to households. - Lenie Lectura, dated 08 June 2011, 06:40 PM.

Source: Business Mirror