DTV stands for Digital Television, which the Philippines will soon have, with ABS-CBN’s initiative of introducing the DTV digibox. DTV is a standard that uses digital signals (as opposed to analog) to broadcast free content.
To use DTV, consumers have to purchase the DTV Digibox, which needs to be connected to their television set. Along with the launch, ABS-CBN is planning to add 5 premium channels for free-to-air TV with DTV: 2 for kids (Disney? Cartoon Network?), 2 for parents (news/sports/soaps?), and 1 for young adults (MTV or Channel V, maybe?).
All existing channels being broadcasted by ABS-CBN (Channel 2, Studio 23, GEM TV, NBN) will also be broadcasting in digital. So that would give you a total 9 digital channels once DTV gets approved by the NTC.
This is great news, in my opinion. Our Asian cousins Japan, China and South Korea are all using digital TV. So are the United States, Australia and Spain. I am pointing this out because majority of the soaps/dramas we love to watch come from these countries. And their soaps/dramas have quite the international following – and I believe that this is because their shows, when uploaded online, are very clear and enjoyable to watch, so bored people from all over the world can easily get addicted.
On the other hand, Philippines shows, even those that are fun to watch, look very amateurish when uploaded on the Net. They’re grainy, full of static, dark, the sounds aren’t good. When I watch an uploaded Filipino movie or drama, I always feel that strain to get a clearer picture. Which totally distracts me from the plot or characters of the show.
With DTV, I am hoping we get better clarity and easier uploads to the Internet. I’m sure this may raise issues of piracy in the long-term, just like what the entertainment industry in South Korea / US is experiencing, but in my opinion the availability of Internet downloads is quite important to these shows. They get free publicity, and they can even market their products internationally. I know a lot of Asian countries buy a lot of the products marketed by the South Korean dramas. And that’s in part to the active international community of Korean drama lovers.
Plus, it’s additional publicity to the country as a whole. Who here hasn’t wanted to visit South Korea, Taiwan or Japan after getting addicted to one of their shows? Admit it, you’ve thought about it. In fact, in the Philippines, there are travel tours dedicated to JPpp/KPop culture. There are exercise routines in Fitness First designed around JPop/KPop music. This digital TV industry is a win-win! And I for one am definitely glad the Philippines is jumping ship.























