By Brian Jules Campued
Better viewing experience, more programming, and the implementation of an early warning broadcast system during emergencies and calamities await the public as the Philippines gears from analog to digital television, according to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
In an interview with Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon on Monday, NTC Deputy Commissioner Alvin Blanco urged the viewing public to shift to digital television service.
“Mas maganda po ang experience sa digital television kapag nag-digital TV po kayo. Mas maraming programs na mapapanood… mas maganda ang signal,” said Commissioner Blanco.
Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) Director Engr. Erwin Galang added that the NTC, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) also plan to adopt the emergency warning broadcast system feature in digital TV.
Galang cited the emergency warning utilized in Japan when it was struck by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake on New Year’s Day.
“Ang experience na nakita sa Japan ay prior na dumating sa ibang lugar, nakita na nila at na-warning-an na sila. So, inaasahan natin na magagawa rin natin ‘yun dito sa Pilipinas,” the KBP official said.
Meanwhile, the government is already implementing measures to help the public, particularly people in rural areas, to shift to digital from analog broadcast.
“And we also have to make sure na itong mga households na ito that are still relying on analog reception ay makapag-access ng digital TV before natin ipatigil ang analog TV service,” Blanco added.
TV networks, however, are required to simulcast both their analog and digital broadcasts to continue serving households that are still using analog service while the transition is ongoing.
“Pinag-aaralan [din] ng pamahalaan ang pag-provide ng subsidy for some of the households na kailangan nating i-transition. Pinag-aaralan [din] ito to make sure na mali-limit ang mga inconvenience,” the NTC official stated.
Based on its latest data, the NTC said around 82% to 83% of households in Mega Manila are now capable of digital TV reception, while less than a million are relying purely on analog TV signal.
“Ito ‘yung ating hinihikayat na mga households na as much as possible, tangkilikin na nila ‘yung ating digital TV service na pino-provide na ng ating mga television networks,” Blanco noted.
Meanwhile, outside of Mega Manila, the transition from analog to digital is still ongoing and digital TV services are being provided in areas like Cebu, Davao, and other key cities. – cf
