GMA Affordabox
GMA Affordabox is a Philippine ISDB-T digital terrestrial television provider owned and operated by GMA New Media, a subsidiary of GMA Network, Inc. The service distributes digital set-top boxes with free-to-view digital TV channels, multimedia player, personal video recorder, broadcast markup language, emergency warning broadcast system, functional auto-on alert, digital display, and info display services to select areas in the Philippines.[1]
 | |
| Product type | DTT Set-top box |
|---|---|
| Owner | GMA Network, Inc. |
| Produced by | QiSheng Electronics Company Ltd. |
| Country | Philippines |
| Introduced | June 26, 2020 |
| Markets | Philippines |
| Ambassador(s) | For GMA Affordabox: Heart Evangelista Michael V. Dingdong Dantes For GMA Now: Alden Richards |
| Tagline |
|
| Website | www |
History
In June 2010, the National Telecommunications Commission announced that it would formally adopt the Japanese standard ISDB-T for digital broadcasting and issued a circular commanding all the country's television networks to switch-off their analog services on December 31, 2015, at 11:59 p.m. Philippine Standard Time (UTC+8).[2] But due to delay of the release of the implementing rules and regulations for digital television broadcast, the target date was moved to 2023.[3]
In February 2013, GMA Network was able to conduct field tests of digital broadcast using the Japanese standard ISDB-T in digital television on UHF Channel 27 (551.143 MHz), despite they remain unconvinced saying European standard DVB-T2 is superior to ISDB-T.[4] However, in October 2013, the NTC issued a draft memorandum circular adopting the Japanese standard as the sole standard in the delivery of digital terrestrial television (DTT) services in the Philippines.[5]
On May 15, 2019, GMA's digital broadcast was moved to its permanent frequency on Channel 15, due to its former frequency, Channel 27 will used by GMA News TV beginning on June 4, as the blocktime deal between GMA and ZOE terminated, resulting to its said channel's former frequency Channel 11 became silent the following day.[6]
In June 2020, images of GMA's owned DTV set-top box were surrounded online and a teaser was revealed on June 17.[7] GMA Network officially launched GMA Affordabox on June 26, 2020 during Tutok to Win sa Wowowin program.[1]
Offered services
GMA Affordabox
GMA Network's flagship product digital set-top boxes which is used for home use.
GMA Now
On December 12, 2020, GMA Network released its mobile dongle designed for USB OTG-capable Android smartphones, dubbed as GMA Now on Lazada and Shopee online.[8] It is not only just able to watch Kapuso and other free-to-air digital channels, but also it has a video-on-demand feature which allows to watch their exclusive online contents, a web chat (Groupee Chat), and interactive promos to join, which requires an internet connection (mobile data or Wi-Fi) for these extra features. GMA Network officially launched GMA Now on February 7, 2021 during All-Out Sundays, and it announced soon it will support for iPhone users.[9][10]
Channel lineup
UHF Channel 15 (479.143 MHz)1
| Channel | Video | Aspect | PSIP Short Name | Programming | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.01 | 480i | 4:3 | GMA | GMA (Main DZBB-TV programming) | Commercial broadcast (10 kW) |
| 7.02 | GMA News TV | GMA News TV | |||
| 7.03 | HEART OF ASIA | Heart of Asia | |||
| 7.04 | HALLYPOP | Hallypop | |||
| 7.05 | (UNNAMED) | Test feed | Black screen | ||
| 7.06 | |||||
| 7.07 | DEPED TV | DepEd TV | Test broadcast | ||
| 7.31 | 240p | GMA1SEG | GMA | 1seg broadcast |
1 For Metro Manila only, channel and frequency varies on regional stations.
Channel and frequency
| Branding | Callsign | UHF Channel # | Frequency | Area of coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMA Digital TV Manila | DZBB-TV | 15 (Digital test broadcast) | 479.143 MHz | Metro Manila/NCR Luzon |
| GMA Digital TV Dagupan/Baguio | DZEA-TV | 38 (Digital test broadcast) | 617.143 MHz | Dagupan City and Baguio City/North Central Luzon |
| GMA Digital TV Ilocos | DWBC-TV | 15 (Digital test broadcast) | 479.143 MHz | Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte |
| GMA Digital TV Batangas | D-12-ZB-TV | 32 (Digital test broadcast) | 581.143 MHz | Batangas/Calabarzon |
| GMA Digital TV Cebu | DYSS-TV | 26 (Digital test broadcast) | 545.143 MHz | Metro Cebu/Central Visayas |
| GMA Digital TV Davao | DXMJ-TV | 37 (Digital test broadcast) | 611.143 MHz | Metro Davao/Southern Mindanao |
| GMA Digital TV Cagayan De Oro | DXJC-TV | 47 (Digital test broadcast) | 671.143 MHz | Cagayan De Oro City/Northern Mindanao |
See also
- ABS-CBN TV Plus (defunct)
- Easy TV (defunct)
References
- "GMA Network unveils 'GMA Affordabox' on its 70th anniversary". GMA News Online. June 26, 2020. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
- "Business - NTC chooses Japan digital TV standard for RP - INQUIRER.net". Philippine Daily Inquirer. June 9, 2010. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved May 8, 2011.
- Cabuenas, Jon Viktor D. (February 14, 2017). "Gov't wants analog TV switched off by 2023". GMA News Online. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
- "GMA Network continues to reject Japanese digital TV standard". Inquirer.net. February 22, 2013. Archived from the original on May 3, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
- Amojelar, Darwin G. (October 11, 2013). "Philippines adopts Japan standard for digital TV". Interaksyon. Archived from the original on March 2, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
- Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas (May 15, 2019). "GMA Network Starts Digital TV Transmission using permanent frequency". GMA Network.com. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
- "Abangan ngayong June 26 sa Wowowin!". Facebook. June 17, 2020.
- "GMA Now: Get your first dibs this 12.12!". GMA News Online. December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
- "GMA optimistic on 'GMA Now's' launch despite COVID-19 pandemic". GMA News Online. February 4, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- "Watch TV for free on your Android device with GMA Now". GMA News Online. February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2021.