グッバイアナログTV (Sayonara Anarogu)

It’s been almost 58 years of success as Japan now bids goodbye to analog television broadcasting. Marked the date of July 24, 2011 as their analog switchoff date, the Land of the Rising Sun succeeded a smooth transition from analog to digital television. 

Tracing back the history of Japanese Television, they're one of the first countries in the world to do experimental television broadcasts in 1939. Due to World War II, Japan almost ceased those test trials and made regular public broadcast in 1950. 

Nippon Hoso Kyokai, popular known as NHK, was Japan's very first television network, and also Asia's first TV broadcaster. To date, Japan now has six nationwide television broadcasters aside from NHK, namely Nihon TV, TBS, Fuji TV, TV Asahi and TV Tokyo. 

On 1958, Japan constructed the well-known Tokyo Tower, a landmark of Japan that houses television transmitters in one major tower to lessen the congestion of buildings of many TV towers in the city. 

Japan even housed the most advanced television broadcast facility in the world, at par with the Philippines on the 60's. Until 1979 which Japan introduces the Hi-Vision, the 1125-line High Definition Television broadcast over the analog signals. This marked also the start of the world's quest to develop high definition signals over television broadcast. 

Decades after, Europe and the US earmarked the commencement of digital television in the world. While those two powerful continents dominate the royalties over DTV, Japan introduced their digital TV standard called the Integrated Services Digital Broadcast or ISDB-T in 1999, which brings high definition, standard definition and mobile/portable TV signals over one terrestrial TV transmission. 

On December 1, 2003, with NHK's effort, Japan publicly introduced the digital terrestrial TV service in the country. Also, this denotes the country's analog switch-off date to July 24, 2011, approximately 7 years to transition from analog to digital TV broadcast. 

It wasn't easy for a country like Japan to switchoff its analog signals over 7 years. In fact, it was the whole country’s effort to recognize Japan’s DTV switchover, aside from the broadcasters and public service. They even did the deer mascot, Chidejika, and made infomercials about the near digital TV migration. 

2009 when broadcasters started to put an “Analog” sign on the upper-right corner of the analog TV signal. This helps to identify that receivers still receives analog TV signals, as well as to inform them that they should migrate into digital broadcast. Others may put hotline numbers and other information on the lower part of the analog broadcasts, until the time comes for Japan to say Goodbye Analog TV. 

July 24, 2011, a historical mark for Japan to switch off all analog TV signals, except for the TV broadcasts in those prefectures that were damaged by the March 11 tsunami (which dated to switch off on March 2012). A day before, NHK even had its special program that showed the 58 years of television broadcast history of the country. Other TV networks include the final infomercials and infotainment programs to show migration to DTV. In the end, all analog TV networks put countdown for the switchoff and after “San-Ni-Ichi”, it was a blue and white information broadcast in just few hours, and suddenly go off-air.

For us, it was a smooth transition from analog to digital TV by simply putting the analog TV viewers on hold to a blue and white info putting some important messages and contact numbers. We remember some time when the US had shut down its analog TV service last June 12, 2009 with a live shutoff of the television transmitters of every network. As of this writing, Japan had never encountered any report on problem with people going digital, as well as receivers and the whole information about DTV are well disseminated to every Japanese household.

With that, Philippines might also follow Japan’s lead to digital broadcast via ISDB-T. Dated on December 31, 2015, almost five years away before the migration, it will be easy for all of us Filipinos to go digital if we do extra efforts to manage, inform and deliver data guided to digital TV broadcast. We at DTV Pilipinas, we are strengthening our outreach to every Filipino the knowledge and information about going digital. Better to know something, rather than nothing, so at the end, we also gonna have a problem-free migration to the future of Philippine television.

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

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

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

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

In June last year, NTC, following unanimous industry support, decided to adopt the Japanese Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) standard as the country’s digital television platform over the European Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) technology.

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

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

Despite admitting a "slow rate" in the country’s shift to digital TV, GMA Network, Inc. supports the review of which standard to adopt, Felipe L. Gozon, chairman and chief executive officer, told reporters yesterday.

"Yes, [we support the review] because we only want the best standard [for the country]...that’s a long-term decision that will affect not only the present but the future operation," he said after his firm’s annual stockholders meeting.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In June last year, representatives from the Japanese embassy and NTC officials signed a memorandum of cooperation. Japanese makers of the set-top boxes required for non-digital TV sets were said to have committed to build a manufacturing plant in the Philippines to help cut prices.

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

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

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

Source: Business World

IRR. The Bible of Digital TV Broadcast.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Transmission

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

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

Video

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

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

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

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

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

Preempting the Philippines’ own rules on digital broadcast, it will be using the SBTVD standard MPEG-4 AVC. Currently, ABS-CBN is the very first digital TV network to transmit MPEG-4 AVC video, since NBN and GEMNET is under the MPEG-2 video standard. With this, ABS-CBN can fit those 7 channels (including the 5 premium channels to be offered soon) into the 6-MHz bandwidth. Aspect ratio is further being discussed in the IRR, as well as the multi-broadcasting feature. 1seg broadcast will also be using the MPEG-4 AVC, in Japanese video format QVGA at 15 fps.

 Note: The views and opinions of Admin-1 do not reflect the whole DTV Pilipinas. Words being described in the following article do not mean the exact amount of information as technically stated by the resource persons, or even related articles pertained.

Manila Standard Today: Digital TV shift reviewed

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

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

Read the article in the following break.

The National Telecommunications Commission is reviewing the platform that will be used for the country’s transition into digital TV after Europe proposed a newer standard claiming to be better than the Japanese technology.

NTC deputy commissioner Carlo Juan Martinez told Manila Standard in a chance interview that Malacañang has ordered the regulator to consider the newer version of European’s digital video broadcasting technology.

“We are reviewing DVB-T2 simultaneously with the drafting of digital TV rules [under a Japanese platform],” he said.

The NTC in June last year issued a circular adopting Japan’s integrated services digital broadcasting technology as the Philippines’ official digital TV platform.

Martinez said it was likely that NTC would delay the rules because the team reviewing DVB-T2 was part of the technical working group drafting the digital TV regulations on the use of the Japanese platform.

“It is possible that both the issuance of rules and its implementation will be delayed. But we are hoping not since the review will not take a long time,” he said.

He added it was also possible that the chosen standards would be revised, depending on the outcome of the review.

“The DVB-T2 is still more expensive than the Japanese standard so there is a slim chance that the platform will be changed. It is still a possibility,” Martinez added.

The rules are scheduled for release next month while the transition is expected to start in January next year. However, NTC said it was extending the 2015 deadline to completely shut off analog TVs.

There was no formal agreement signed yet between the government of Japan and the Philippines officially designating the latter’s platform as the country’s digital TV technology.

The NTC said the government was still negotiating with the Japanese government to include soft loans for private broadcasters for the acquisition of necessary equipment for the analog TV shutoff.

The National Broadcasting Network, owned and operated by the government, received early this year a $4-million equipment grant from Japan, which will allow the TV network to easily shift from analog to Japanese digital TV technology. - Jeremiah F. de Guzman, dated 17 May, 2011.

Source: Manila Standard Today

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The network also ventured into having the Baron antenna into the market, which is very suited for ABS’ reception, but still, the network failed to top again with the technology they introduced. People are still clamouring for the clear and crisp signal before.

The technology word goes into the year 2006 for digital TV broadcast; ABS-CBN was the very first TV network to try. They’re in the midst of having a lighted bulb onto their minds while telling themselves “Ah! We’ve got the ultimate solution!” Along with the NTC’s first draft of having a digital TV standard, ABS-CBN uses DVB-T, along with GEMNET, who dared to switch off its analog channel to be used for DTV.

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

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

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

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

National Broadcasting Network’s Road to Digital Television

The Opening of Government Television

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

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

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

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

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

NBN's Harris Analog TV Transmitter

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

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

The NBN's most sophisticated Digital
TV Technical Operations Facility

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

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

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

NBN's Analog TV (left) and Digital TV
with Datacast (right) comparisons

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

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


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ABS-CBN News: Full migration to digital TV completed in 10 years–NTC

MANILA, Philippines - Full migration to digital television in the country will take place 10 years from now, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has said. 

“Another bold stride the NTC has taken this year was to commence the transition of the broadcast industry from analog to digital. The NTC estimates full migration from analog to digital tv technology within the next 5-10 years,” the regulator said in its yearend report. 

The NTC has now been given the go-ahead by the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) to convene a technical working group for the purpose of drafting the Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) for digital TV. The TWG will be composed of members from the broadcast industry and other stakeholders such as the government, suppliers and consumers. 

In June of this year, the NTC dumped the European standard for digital television in favor of Japan’s Integrated Services Digital Broadcast (ISDB) technology as the standard for Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) broadcast service. But this can’t be fully implemented yet without the IRR. The NTC should first convene a TWG to craft the IRR and frequency planning for the implementation of the ISDB technology. 

“An overwhelming consensus and endorsement among the various industry stakeholders was submitted to the Commission which bore Memorandum Circular 02-06-2010 on ‘Standard for Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Broadcast Service’ adopting the ISDB-T platform,” said the NTC. 

When DTT technology is enforced in the country, there is a need to switch off all analog TV handsets. The switch-off would render all nondigital TV sets obsolete unless connected to an external off-the-air tuner, or a satellite system.

The government is looking at delaying the compulsory transition of all analog television service providers to digital TV and for the termination of all analog TV broadcast transmissions from an earlier target set at the end of year 2015. 

The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) has an interest in the formulation of the IRR and the frequency planning as these will have immediate, medium- and long-term effects on the operation of its members. 

“Our members have already been preparing for the migration to digital TV. Capital expenditures have been budgeted and to a certain degree outlaid, notwithstanding uncertainties due to the absence of an IRR and frequency plan,” it has said. - Lenie Lectura, Business Mirror, dated 29 December 2010, 11:45 PM

Source: ABS-CBN News 

ABS-CBN News: Philippine, Japan governments to ink digital TV accord

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines and Japanese governments are working on signing a memorandum of cooperation following the decision to tap the latter’s Integrated Services Digital Broadcast technology as the country’s standard for Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) broadcast service.  

Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) chairman Ivan Uy said Japan is willing to train Filipino engineers in this field. 

This, he said, is contained in the draft memorandum which is currently being circulated for comments. “The memo is circulating among different departments. We need to get comments from everybody whether on the KBP [Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas] side or the Department of Foreign Affair whether it would affect any of our international agreements or commitment,” said Uy, who added, “Once everybody has given their comment, then we will sit down.” 

If approved, Uy said Filipino engineers who will be trained by Japanese experts who can then be tapped by other countries that are also going to adapt the Japanese standard for digital TV.

“Eventually, we would be like a big brother to other countries. We can export our engineers to teach other countries.” 

The Japanese government is also being requested by the Philippines to subsidize the cost of set-top boxes. These boxes are necessary so that the Filipinos can watch digital broadcast programs once the shift from analog to digital system is implemented. 

“The Japanese government will invest in a set-top box factory in the Philippines. But we are also asking them to subsidize the boxes because we don’t have the funds for that,” added Uy. 

When DTT technology is enforced in the country there is a need to switch off all analog TV handsets. The switch-off would render all non-digital TV sets obsolete unless connected to an external off-the-air tuner, or a satellite system.

The government is looking at delaying the compulsory transition of all analog television service providers to digital TV and for the termination of all analog TV broadcast transmissions from an earlier target set at the end of year 2015. 

The National Telecommunications Commission was already given the go-ahead by the CICT to form a Technical Working Group (TWG) for the purpose of drafting the Implementing Rules and Regulation for digital television. 

The TWG will be composed of members from the broadcast industry and stakeholders such as the government, suppliers and consumers. - Lenie Lectura, Business Mirror, dated 28 December 2010, 12:36 AM

Source: ABS-CBN News