The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) announced that it is now eying the shut-of off of analog television broadcasts to complete the country’s transition to digital terrestrial television broadcasting (DTTB). Terrestrial television stations in major areas of the country are now broadcasting in digital but continue to operate their analog TV transmitters for viewers who still do not have TV receivers capable of receiving digital signals. 

During the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon public briefing on PTV-4 last January 15, NTC Commissioner Alvin Blanco said that although there is no fixed date yet for the shut-off of analog TV broadcasts, preparations for the shut-off are already being undertaken. 

According to the NTC, at least 82% of the TV households in Mega Manila have already shifted to digital terrestrial television (DTTB), while at least 18% of the TV households are still on analog TV.

Blanco said that the NTC is urging the viewing public who have not yet converted to digital TV to already do so, He said that most digital TV boxes available in the market are compatible with most of the television models currently in use. 

"We encourage TV viewers to shift to digital TV service. The experience is better with digital television. It also provides more programs, a better signal, and a clearer picture,” Blanco said. 

Blanco said that aside from better signal and crisp visuals, digital TV  is also capable of providing  an early warning broadcast system (EWBS) – a feature that the government will use to alert citizens in times of calamities such as typhoons, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and the like. The DTTB system was developed and is in use in Japan. It was adopted for Philippine televisions in 2016.