ABS-CBN To Go Digital
In this interesting Manila Standard Article, one the country’s largest broadcasters, ABS-CBN (DZAQ), is baring plans to introduce Digital TV (DTV) to the country.
Lopez said ABS-CBN planned to set up DTV boxes in areas where signal reception of Channel 2 is weak. Potential DTV market includes Valenzuela, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite and Laguna. “This will solve our signal problem in suburban areas and at the same time provide advertisers another platform for advertising which will generate additional revenues for the company,” Lopez said.
Digital television sets produce clearer vision and sound because of their increased capacity to receive access signals unlike sets running on analog technology. ABS-CBN is set to conduct tests on the DTV program it plans to offer to potential subscribers this month until the end of December. Lopez said the company hopes to roll out the program by the middle of next year.
ABS-CBN will offer Channel 2 and 14 additional channels for its subscribers of DTV. Lopez said the company would team up with other content providers to fill up the additional TV channels.
It appears that the business model for this original launch will be similar to a cable TV model where your DTV subscription will buy you access to Channel 2 and 14 other channels (most likely from ABS-CBN too and partner networks). What would be interesting is if ABS-CBN will also deploy technology that would allow clear mobile TV reception (DVB-H or DMB)? The current half-hearted IPTV-based attempts at Mobile TV, by mobile network operators, do not have good enough quality for enjoyable TV viewing.
The stated primary reason for this introduction is to provide access to areas with poor Channel 2 signal reception. Of course, I still believe this is a good future-proofing move by the Lopez company to ensure that they have a play in the future of Television.
