THE transition from analog to digital terrestrial television broadcasting (DTTB) in Mega Manila is in full swing, according to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) in Calabarzon. While the goal is to complete the analog switch-off (ASO) by the end of 2024, specific guidelines for the transition are still pending.
NTC IV-A Regional Director Rolando DS. San Luis announced that once the guidelines are released, the public will have 60 days to prepare. Speaking during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas forum on November 19, he clarified that the transition would only cover suburban areas of Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal adjacent to Metro Manila, not the entire Calabarzon region.
“The NTC announced the [analog] shut down by the end of the year, but the specific memorandum circular or the guidelines are not yet released. Since it’s already November, and if the memorandum is released by December, we will still have a full 60 days to use our analog TV or regular TV,” San Luis explained.
Impact on Households
San Luis acknowledged that households without smart TVs or digital boxes would lose access to regular television broadcasts after the shutdown. To address this, the government is exploring subsidies for vulnerable sectors.
“We are requesting the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) to identify the areas where residents need assistance so they can receive vouchers for digital devices,” San Luis said. The NTC plans to finalize the support measures once formal guidelines are issued.
Progress and Benefits of Digital TV
An NTC report from February 2024 revealed that 82% of TV households in Mega Manila have already transitioned to digital broadcasting, leaving 18% still reliant on analog TV.
The shift to digital broadcasting aligns with global technological advancements, ensuring the competitiveness of the Philippines’ broadcast industry while offering improved services to the public. The ISDB-T standard, adopted from Japan in 2015-2016, provides a superior viewing experience, more programming options, and features like an early warning broadcast system (EWBS) for calamity alerts.
As the end-of-year deadline for analog television approaches, the NTC urges affected households to prepare for the transition to avoid disruption in television service.