KBP WANTS NTC TO ISSUE IRR ON DTV NOW!

Expressing its impatience over government inaction, the local broadcast industry has asked the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to issue the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the digital TV standard it picked last year.

The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) said broadcast networks have been waiting for the NTC rules that will set the ground rules and provisions to guide broadcast firms in operating under digital transmission.

The NTC last year chose the Japanese digital TV standard over the European platform, but has not yet issued the necessary rules after Malacanang ordered a review of its decision. The European Union has reportedly approached Pres. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino in an effort to appeal the NTC’s ruling.

Atom Henares, chairman of the KBP Television Committee, said it is important for the NTC to already come out with the IRR because the country is trying to meet the deadline set by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

ITU is the global body, to which the Philippines is a member of, mandating countries to adopt a new digital TV standard. Countries like United States and Japan took almost ten years to fully roll out digital broadcasting.

“If we keep on delaying the release of IRR just because a new standard is released, we will be left out. Technology is always evolving non-stop. We need to address the needs of the Filipinos now,” stressed Henares.

“Majority of our households don’t have cable subscriptions which confine their viewing experience to up to only 22 channels compared to up to 176 channels in DTT. Being stuck in the analog age of television limits the viewing experience of Filipinos,” Henares explained.

Of the 22 channels, only three are being watched by approximately 80 percent of the market. This is a clear proof of the limited choices the Filipinos currently have in terms of programs and content, the group said.

Another significant feature of DTT is its data broadcast capability and interactivity, which allows for immediate data transmission to all DTT users. This is particularly helpful in emergency situations, the group added.

“Migrating to DTT also makes viewing for Filipinos easier anywhere with its mobility. Several mobile phones are already available in the market that can receive DTT signals allowing its users to watch while on the go,” KBP said.

The urgent need to migrate to digital broadcasting is being pushed by other non-KBP member broadcast networks as well, the group said.

Antonio M. Leduna, chief technology officer of National Broadcasting Network (NBN) said, “With DTT, the public could be served better with better reception and quality.”

NBN has been test broadcasting using digital transmission since 2009 and has not since experienced any interruption or problems with their reception. Other networks that are currently testing digital broadcast are Gem TV and Net 25.

Leduna added that the reaction they always get when they demo digital broadcast to a group of people is, “When will it be available to us?”

Said Henares, “All the industry needs now is the IRR for them to fully prepare to roll out digital broadcast.” 

Source:http://newsbytes.ph/2011/06/10/kbp-to-ntc-stop-waiting-issue-digital-tv-rules-now/