MANILA – In anticipation of the imminent shutdown of analog TV, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is urging the public to transition to digital television (TV) by acquiring digital-ready TVs or digital TV receivers.
During the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing on Monday, NTC Commissioner Alvin Blanco highlighted the substantial difference between digital and analog TV, emphasizing the superior clarity of digital TV. “Other than that, we also have early warning broadcasts that can assist the public during emergencies and disasters,” Blanco added.
Digital TV presents additional advantages, including enhanced signal quality, detailed program information, and an expanded selection of channels. Blanco mentioned that various TV networks are offering digital TV boxes that can be easily connected to most televisions.
As of now, approximately 82 percent of households in Mega Manila have already made the switch to digital TV. However, less than a million households, constituting the remaining 18 percent, continue to use analog TV.
In 2017, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) announced a four to six-year coexistence period for analog and digital TV before the complete shutdown of analog broadcasting. The standard for digital terrestrial TV broadcasting (DTTB) was established in 2013 through a memorandum circular by the NTC, following an order by former president Benigno Aquino III.
(el Amigo/MNM)