Digital terrestrial television in the Philippines

However, significant changes were introduced in June 2010 when the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) declared the adoption of ISDB-T International as the digital terrestrial television (DTT) service standard.

In response to this shift, a circular was issued by the NTC, directing broadcasters to discontinue analog services by December 31, 2015, at 11:59 p.m. (Philippine Standard Time, UTC+8).

The groundwork for transitioning to Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) began with the issuance of Executive Order 546, series of 1979, and Republic Act 3846, also known as the Radio Control Law.

An observational approach, commonly referred to as a "wait and see" strategy, has been adopted to assess progress without a definitive decision on the implementation of digital television services in the Philippines.

[11] In a Memorandum Circular dated June 2, 2010, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) selected the Brazilian standard ISDB-Tb for digital television in the country.

This decision was based on its capacity to provide three levels of categorized modulation (audio, video, and data services) to fixed, portable, and handheld devices, eliminating the need for additional communication infrastructure.

The draft proposal, as an embodiment of digital technology in television broadcasting, aims to provide a greater number of channels, enhanced screen resolution, and stereo sound through a conventional aerial antenna, eliminating the need for satellite or cable TV services.

According to the latest data from the NTC, fewer than a million households, constituting approximately 18%, in Mega Manila continue to utilize analog TV.