NTC draft rules require simulcast digital, analog TV broadcast for 1 year

MANILA - The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has issued the rules on the Philippines' migration to digital terrestrial TV (DTT).  

Under the NTC's draft implementing rules and regulations (IRR), Japan's Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) standard should be the sole standard in the delivery of digital TV broadcast service in the Philippines.

According to the NTC’s draft rules, TV companies are required to simulcast their DTT service and analog service within a year upon the effectivity of the IRR.

A bandwidth of 6 megahertz shall be assigned for each authorized DTT service per service area. The NTC also allocated the frequency bands 512-698 Mhz (Channels 21 to 51) for the implementation of the DTT service.

"A duly authorized DTT service provider shall be have the option in its application to the Commission to adopt either single or multi-program HDTV format or single or multi-program SDTV format or any combination thereof for its digital service," NTC said, adding that  any subsequent change in the program format shall require prior written approval from the Commission.

The agency said the provision of new programs in addition to the analog legacy program is encouraged, adding that, "The provision of HD programs is likewise encouraged."

The draft rules provide that the transition and migration from analog TV to DTT service shall be based on a transition plan formulated by the NTC in consultation with the broadcast industry.

No analog TV operation shall be allowed after the analog shut-off (ASO), which will be set by the agency. 

Dealers of brand new TV receiving sets shall indicate in each TV set whether the same can receive analog signal only and will require a set top box or whether the same can receive ISDB-T programs.

Free-to-air TV or non-cable households comprise 90 percent of the Philippines' 17 million viewers.

The agency issued the draft IRR for digital TV to facilitate the entry of digital broadcast services in the country.

"There is a need to provide the corresponding guidelines for the delivery of the digital television services and ensure smooth transition from analog to digital television," NTC said.

The NTC is scheduled to hold a public hearing on September 12 for the proposed IRR on digital TV.

The regulator in 2010 issued an order adopting ISDB-T as the standard and released a draft IRR in July 2011, but Malacañang ordered a review of Europe's Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial 2 (DVB-T2).

In November last year, the NTC issued Memorandum Circular No. 05-11-2013, adopting Japan's ISDB-T standard for the Philippines' migration to digital TV.

The NTC order came on the heels of President Benigno Aquino III's promise to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a state visit that the Philippines would choose Japan's standard over that of Europe.

Besides Japan, other countries that use ISDB-T are Brazil, Peru, Chile, Venezuela, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Paraguay.

Source: Interaksyon