GMA Network is fully prepared for the government mandated shutdown of analog television signals in Mega Manila this coming November, company officials confirmed on Friday.
During a virtual annual stockholders’ meeting, GMA Network president and chief executive officer Gilberto Duavit Jr. assured investors that the broadcasting giant has spent years laying the groundwork for this transition. The move aligns with a National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) directive issued in November 2025, which requires all television stations in the National Capital Region and nearby provinces—including Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Pampanga, and Bataan—to completely migrate to digital terrestrial television within one year.
Duavit explained the transition will be a straightforward operational task for the network. It will primarily involve turning off its two primary analog transmitters in Mega Manila—one for its flagship GMA channel and another for GTV—while its digital broadcasts continue uninterrupted. He emphasized that GMA’s digital infrastructure was specifically designed for this shift, noting that their current digital coverage in Mega Manila is highly robust and actually exceeds the reach of their old analog signals.
Despite the network’s readiness, challenges remain for viewers who have not yet made the switch. Duavit acknowledged that it is difficult to determine exactly how many households still rely solely on analog television and risk losing access to free-to-air broadcasts. According to a December 2024 survey by Kantar Media Philippines, commissioned by the Department of Information and Communications Technology, roughly 80 percent of TV households in Mega Manila had already transitioned to digital television, leaving an estimated 20 percent potentially affected.
To address this gap, GMA is collaborating with government agencies that are planning to roll out support programs to help affected families transition to digital. Additionally, the network plans to launch an information campaign to educate the public on how to check if their TVs are affected and what steps they can take to keep receiving broadcasts. Duavit said GMA will provide as much assistance as possible, noting that the network also keeps an inventory of compatible digital TV boxes available for consumers.
On a broader scale, GMA’s digital footprint continues to expand, with its digital television network currently reaching about 90 percent of television households across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
