Digital Television in The Philippines

Digital Television In The Philippines

In the Philippines, Digital television broadcasts can be received through digital cable and direct broadcast satellite. Digital terrestrial television (DTT) services are currently in development by the major broadcasting companies of the Philippines.

Currently using the American NTSC standard for analog television, the National Telecommunications Commission officially announced in June 2010 that DTT in the Philippines would utilize the Japanese ISDB-T standard, and issued a circular stating that the country's broadcasters must discontinue their analog services by the transition deadline of 11:59 p.m. (Philippine Standard Time, UTC+8) on December 31, 2015. The commission will be using the ultra-high frequency television channels from 14 to 51 between 470-698 megahertz for digital terrestrial television broadcast service and deliberating channels 14 to 20 (470-512 MHz) which is currently being used for fixed/mobile services. However, before the official announcement, several broadcasters performed trial broadcasts using DVB-T.

Preparation for the transition to digital television commenced with an issuance of Executive Order 546, series of 1979 and Republic Act 3846 or the Radio Control Law as amended by the local governing body for broadcast services, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and adopted the said order to promulgate rules and regulations in order to facilitate the entry of digital broadcast services in the Philippines and implement a specific standard for the delivery of DTT services. Subsequently organizing two technical working groups for the purpose of directing the governing body in the selection of appropriate DTT standard and upon the commendation of investors in the broadcast business, comprising the local broadcasters group, the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, the NTC issued Memorandum Circular 02-06-2010 on June 11, 2010 implementing the standard for digital terrestrial television broadcast service.