The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has proposed Mega Manila as the starting point for the country’s nationwide Analog Switch-Off (ASO), citing high digital TV penetration in the area.
In a draft circular titled “Guidelines for the Switch-Off of the Analog TV Service in Mega Manila,” the NTC noted that about 80 percent of TV households in the region already receive digital broadcasts, based on a December 2024 survey by Kantar Media Philippines for the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
The regulator said setting an ASO date will help TV networks plan for full digital transition, having already provided analog-digital simulcasts for over eight years, particularly on VHF channels.
Once the circular takes effect, the ASO process in Mega Manila will begin and is expected to be completed within 12 months, unless extended with advance notice. All analog TV frequencies, including temporary ones used for simulcasting, will be recalled after the transition.
The NTC emphasized that Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) offers superior viewing quality, better signal reception, and more program options than analog. The Philippines began its digital migration in 2013 with the adoption of Japan’s ISDB-T standard.
