Digital TV shift by 2023 pushing through — DICT

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s plan to switch to digital television is pushing through, with the government bullish in achieving a full migration by 2023.

Information and Communications Technology Secretary Eliseo Rio said broadcast stations are fully committed to achieve the complete migration target in the next five years, with most of them already in full blast in their efforts.

“No one has said that they cannot do it,” Rio said.

“Broadcast stations are the ones involved here. Given this schedule, they are okay with it more or less. So everyone will migrate. In fact, some of them are now migrating, inlcuding the big TV stations. While they have digital, they still have the analog,” he said.

By 2023, however, Rio said the analog system would be switched off completely and would be replaced by digital television transmission.

The DICT launched last year its Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting migration plan which aims to have 95 percent of the country’s households switch to digital television by 2023.

The migration from analog to digital is in line with the evolution of the country’s communication systems.

GMA last year said it has earmarked P415 million to initially cover digital transmissions in Mega Manila.

Meanwhile, surveys conducted by Pulse Asia and SWS last March showed that 51 and 56 percent, respectively, of Metro Manila homes now own a digital terrestrial television box, allowing users to get a better TV viewing experience and more choices in terms of programs and channels.