Media giant GMA Network Inc. has asked the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to postpone the scheduled shutdown of analog television, citing unfinalized safety nets intended to protect vulnerable households.
The network requested additional time because the implementation rules for a government support program have yet to be formally established. The initiative, outlined in a joint memorandum circular by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the NTC, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), and other agencies, aims to prevent lower-income families from losing access to broadcast media during the transition.
However, execution mechanics such as set-top box distribution and financial subsidies currently lack operational guidelines.
Under NTC Memorandum Circular No. 005-11-2025, broadcasters in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, Pampanga, and Bataan are required to end analog broadcasts by November 22 following a 12-month migration to the digital terrestrial standard.
A DICT-commissioned Kantar Media survey showed that roughly 80% of television households in Mega Manila had already adopted digital TV reception as of December 2024. Despite GMA’s petition, NTC Deputy Commissioner Alvin Blanco confirmed that the November 22 deadline remains active.
The NTC plans to forward GMA’s petition to the DICT to address the network’s concerns. Regulators will only consider schedule adjustments if the communications department formally recommends an extension, which would necessitate amending the existing circular.
Postponing the shutdown would ensure uninterrupted viewership while the government finalizes its household support program. Meanwhile, regulators noted that future analog switch-off timelines for the rest of the country will depend on thorough evaluations of regional operational readiness.
The migration to digital terrestrial broadcasting promises enhanced audio-visual quality, multiple channels per frequency, superior signal resilience, and integrated emergency warning capabilities.