Newsbytes: GMA-7 may spend P600M for digital TV transition

With the government-mandated ruling that television stations should shift to digital transmission by 2015, broadcast giant GMA-7 has revealed that it may spend P300 to P600 million for its move to digital TV.

The TV station made the pronouncement in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) where it also divulged that it is unlikely to reach its P3-billion income target for 2010 because of a weak fourth quarter as compared with the same period last year which was buoyed by election campaign ads.

“While the company’s 4Q 2010 performance was good, 4Q 2009 was better due to the presence of advocacy ads. Thus, the company may not be able to hit its P3 billion net income target for 2010. Channel 7’s gross airtime revenues would settle roughly at P12 billion for the whole year,” the company said.

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has formally directed television firms to start migrating to digital TV after picking early this year a Japanese digital TV standard. - dated 21 December 2010, 11:52 AM.

Source: Newsbytes Philippines

Inquirer: NTC slammed over digital TV decision

MANILA, Philippines—The National Telecommunications Commission’s last-minute decision in choosing Japanese DTV standards for use in the Philippines has raised the eyebrows of several broadcast-sector stakeholders.

Last June, just three weeks before the end of the Arroyo administration, the commission decided that the best system for the Philippines would be the Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting digital terrestrial television standard, a broadcast platform developed in Japan.

This beat the Digital Video Broadcasting platform developed in Europe.

Digital TV technology will give users more channels and improve the quality of service. The shift will also free up some frequencies that may be allocated for wireless broadband Internet.

The International Telecommunications Union has given the Philippines until 2015 to complete the shift to digital TV technology, replacing the analog broadcast systems used by television stations today.

Some industry players have expressed their concern over the regulator’s move to junk the European standard for digital television, which is said to be more cost-effective and widely used around the world.

A source privy to the proceedings said the timing of the NTC decision appeared dubious because it was made just a few weeks before President Aquino assumed power.

But NTC Deputy Commissioner Douglas Michael Mallillin said the Japanese standard won over the European version due to the lower price of set-top boxes.

“Everyone in the industry has supported our choice,” Mallillin said. “Technically, there’s no issue.”

Japan also offered a “sweetener”—the establishment of a manufacturing facility in the Philippines—to persuade the government to adopt the Japanese standard, he added.

So far, no Philippine company has committed to this standard. - Paolo Montecillo, dated 13 December 2010, 11:51 PM.

Source: Inquirer

DiBEG: Demonstration in the KBP Top Level Management Conference in the Philippines

On November 25-26, 2010, the KBP (the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, the Association of Broadcasters of the Philippines) held its annual Top Level Management Conference and General Membership meeting in Taal Vista Hotel, Tagaytay City, Philippines.

This occassion was attended by the key executives of the various TV & Radio Networks in the Philippines with the participation of various equipment vendors, industry supporters, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan, key government officials of the Philippines consisting of the representatives from the National Telecommunications Commission and the Commission on Information and Technology.

 

Commissioner Cordoba and Deputy Commissioner Fortes in the Middle		KBP President Herman Basbano and KBP Chairman Rupert Nicdao

During the conference, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan and the Association of Radio Industries and Businesses made an exhibition booth in cooperation with ACCESS Co. Ltd., Leader Electronics Corp., Maspro Denkoh Corp., Sharp Corporation, Toshiba Corporation, Smart networks and Kami Electronics Industries Co. Ltd. showcasing variety of ISDB-T products.

In addition, the live transmission from Manila and reception inside the hall of Taal Vista Hotel of an ISDB-T signal was demonstrated which has gained admiration from the delegates in terms of its quality and robustness despite the limited transmitter power being emitted 60 Kilometers away.

During the sessions, Mr. Gamaliel A. Cordova, the Commissioner of the National Telecommunications Commission made a speech summarizing the past discussion including the issue of the Memorandum Circular adopting the Japanese ISDB-T as the digital TV standard for the Philippines, and high ling the upcoming decision making process including the Technical Working Group 3 to define the Implementing Rules and Regulations for the Digital Terrestrial Television roll-out in the Philippines.

Also, Mr. Toshiyuki Yokota, the Director General for International Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs wished for the success of the Philippine broadcasters in their pursuit of excellence. - dated 28 November 2010

 Source: DiBEG