Light Network Goes Digital!

Wazzup Pilipinas!

It was only recently that the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) held the Digital TV Summit where it aims to encourage TV networks to broadcast in digital TV. I believe all of the TV networks where there to participate as either guests, speakers or exhibitors. The estimated completion of this project is sometime by the year 2023, or six years from now.

That is also the last years of the current administration which makes it a fitting legacy that the Duterte administration would leave to the country before the new administration takes place.

However, it is not something new since we all know some have already initiated with the Digital TV project just as how ABS-CBN started it with their black box or "Mahiwagang Black Box" which lets you access select channels but prioritizing of course the ABS-CBN channels plus some exclusives that could only be seen using the TV Plus box.

The black box is actually a digital box that provides dramatically clear reception for all free TV channels via digital transmission. But still, the network is providing digital using this "black box" that is separate from its analog broadcast.

Now, other channels are making the move towards almost the same but obviously better goal - to provide real digital TV which would definitely change the way we see television, especially if we are using full-featured digital TV.

Light Network channel 33 is also achieving greater innovation as it begins its official broadcast on Digital Television this coming March 2017! 

Now, that's a bit surprising as I would have thought the other big channels would follow soon. I've heard Light Network representatives were also there during the Digital TV Summit so it must have inspired them to speed up their digital TV effort and launch it way ahead of the others. It looks like the targeted 2023 may be coming in earlier for Light Network.

Kudos to Engr. Antonio Soriano for this accomplishment. March is just around the corner so we are excited to see this technology soon. Hopefully, not only Mega Manila but the rest of the country will be fitted with this technology for the benefit of many.

Through this exciting breakthrough, viewers in Mega Manila will soon be able to experience a clearer and highly-improved video and sound quality of Light Network in their televisions. Once official broadcast begins, people can now watch Light Network anytime and anywhere because not only will the channel be available on digital boxes and digital-ready televisions, but it could also be accessed through handheld devices such as tablets, smartphones and other gadgets.

The “digitalization” is the process of converting our current Analog Television broadcasting into Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT), which simply means that our existing television technology will be transformed into an upgraded, higher quality of broadcast system. Through this digital improvement, Light Network will soon be available on multiple digital viewing platforms—broadening its horizon among the television programming sphere.

In an interview with Engr. Antonio Soriano, the Vice President of Technical Operations for Light Network, he said that he is excited for the upcoming Digitalization of Light Network, because the channel had long since been prepared for this huge digital switchover. “Tayo ang unang nag-convert from Analog to Digital transmitter. Wala nang test -broadcast. Official broadcast na agad.” He also said that not all channels are ready to make the digital “switch”, making Light Network the first channel in the Philippines to migrate to the exciting domain of Digital TV, while maintaining its frequency on Channel 33.

According to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), once the innovative technology of Digitalization is fully implemented, it would not only deliver better image and sound quality to our television channels, but it would also be able to provide features such as datacasting, multi-channel platform, One Seg, and most importantly, the Emergency Warning Broadcast System (EWBS), which is used to transmit nationwide warning announcements in times of earthquakes, tsunamis, or other high-alert disasters.

Engr. Antonio Soriano further stated that these features are just few of the many benefits of Digital TV. According to him, through the other upcoming advancements in Digitalization, television will finally regain its essential standing in the lives of people, as compared to the rising media usage for mobile devices. “Yes. Maibabalik ang TV bilang prime Media tool,” he concluded.


Written By: Dyan Delos Reyes

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