ABS-CBN DTV Marketing Head Miguel Mercado
ABS-CBN is ready to launch five new premium channels on free-to-air TV, each catering to a specific member of the family.
The expansion heralds the Kapamilya network’s foray into Digital Television (DTV), a high-tech standard that uses digital signals and occupies lesser space on the frequency. DTV allows a single TV station to broadcast on more than one channel and air more programs. A DTV Digibox will serve as the viewer’s gateway to enjoying new channels that ABS-CBN has developed to cater to preferences of different market segments. The new channels to be made available include 2 channels for kids, a channel for the youth, a channel for dads and a channel for moms.
The increase in channels translates to an increase in enjoyment and bonding time for family members. Viewers will get not only more options but also better picture and sound. “With Philippine broadcasting companies going digital, the viewing public will be able to enjoy digital quality viewing in any TV as DTV addresses the issues of poor reception, grainy pictures and choppy audio,” says Mercado.
The technology is easy to use and is budget-friendly, too. One would need to purchase a DTV Digibox (which costs only as much as a DVD player), and connect it to any TV set to begin watching shows on the five new channels and all existing channels broadcasting in digital. By the time ABS-CBN commences its DTV operations, this list will include Channel 2, Studio 23, GEM TV and NBN.
Mercado says, “We expect other broadcasters won’t be far behind in launching their current channels into digital.”
The NTC has mandated the local broadcasting industry to make a complete transition to digital TV by 2015. This directive puts the Philippines at par with the global standard as several countries like Australia, the U.S., Japan, South Korea, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain, have switched to DTV.
Atty. Regie Jularbal, Legal Counsel of KBP and Miguel Mercado, ABS-CBN DTV Marketing Head