Filipinos shifting to digital Tv

Filipinos shifting to digital Tv

MANILA, Philippines — After trial broadcasts, more Filipino households with free-television or non cable TV (CATV) now want to migrate to Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT) for a clearer viewing experience.

Free TV viewers comprise the majority, or 90 percent, of the total Filipino viewing public.

However the strongest drivers to migrate to DTT include affordability, increase in channel options enabled by the digital multi-frequency platform, as well as dramatic improvement of signal quality or reception. The latter was the key source of viewers’ satisfaction.

Last year, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) named Japan’s Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial (ISDB) as the Digital television broadcast standard for the Philippines.

This prompted some television networks such as ABS-CBN, Net 25, Gem TV, and government station National Broadcasting Network (NBN) to do trial digital broadcasts on DTT.

Using ISDB-T, ABS CBN did test digital broadcasts in households belonging to D-E sector in Mexico, Pampanga and the towns of San Miguel, San Ildefonso and San Rafael in Bulacan.

The test broadcast, which began in August 1 of this year, showed that the sample households’ willingness to go digital TV increased from 44 percent to 56 percent after the two-week testing.

Having all the benefits of digital TV at a price they can afford was also a major consideration. ISDB-T’s more affordable set-top box has an initial retail price of P2,500. Rival technology, Europe’s Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) is 60 percent costlier based on Freight on Board (FoB) price. Survey respondents noted that channels could be viewed clearly and signal reception remains strong even if it rains, or when there’s strong winds or typhoon.

Test households further attest that the digital TV broadcast enabled them to watch more channels. They used to be able to watch only two channels since their analog antenna can’t get clear signals for other channels. On digital TV, programs are likewise available 24 hours.

“Since we began test broadcast on ISDB-T in 2009, signal was robust and there was no degradation in the quality of the images and sound,” noted Engr. Antonio M. Leduna, NBN’s Chief Technology Officer
(EVA)