G Sat

G Sat (Global Satellite) is a subscription-based direct-to-home (DTH) satellite television service commercially available in the Philippines. G Sat is owned by Global Satellite Technology Services (GSTS), registered in the Philippines with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).[1] G Sat also imported pay TV channels from Hong Kong, which TV shows and movies subtitled in Cantonese.

G Sat
TypeDirect-broadcast satellite television
Country
Philippines
Founded2006 (2006)
SloganThe biggest and widest satellite TV in Asia
OwnerGlobal Satellite Technology Services (First Global Conglomerates)
Picture format
DVB-S2 MPEG-4
Official website
gsat.asia

It is operated and managed by international and professional management groups engaged in the business of: satellite wireless transmission, WIMAX transmission, landline transmission, satellite internet data transmission, satellite direct-to-home TV operation, terrestrial television operation, broadband data service, head end in the sky operation, content aggregation, production and distribution, consolidation of telecom and broadcasting management.[1]

In August 2016, G Sat was moved to SES-9 from their former satellite broadcaster NSS 11 due on its system upgrade.

Technical information

Satellite Band Position Frequency Polarity SR FEC Encryption System Status Coverage
SES-9 Ku Band 108.2° East 12341, 12401 and 12461 MHz Horizontal (H) 45000 5/6 Conax DVB-S2 MPEG-4 Commercial broadcast Philippines
12711 MHz

G Sat broadcasts in DVB-S (for standard definition channels and audio channels) and DVB-S2 (for HD channels) on SES-9 satellite at 108.2°E. Originally, prior to its system upgrade on August 2016, a loophole has been discovered that half of G Sat's channels were free-to-air, which can be received using an existing free-to-air satellite receiver, this allowed viewers to watch some half of the channels without any existing subscription (in a way to United Kingdom's Freesat service). However, as of August 2016, due to its system upgrade and migration to SES-9, all of the channels are now encrypted (except One Media Network), which now requires subscription.

In January 2017, G Sat announced to their subscribers to rescan their subscriber's receivers for the channel line-up's change.

Status of competition and controversy

Dream Satellite TV filed a complaint with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) against Global Broadcasting and Multimedia, Inc. (G Sat) for offering A DTH service in the Philippines without a franchise and a license from Philippine authorities, namely the Philippine Congress for a broadcast franchise and the NTC for a Certificate of Public Convenience.[2] Aside from Dream, the Lopez group SkyCable an ABS-CBN sister company also filed a similar complaint against GBMI. It argued that GBMI's illegal entry into the industry will result in the unnecessary duplication of an existing service that existing cable TV and DTH-TV service providers already adequately provide.[3]

On July 30, 2020, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11481, which extended the franchise of First United Broadcasting Corporation to 25 years.[4]

In-house channels

Current

Currently, G Sat owns its in-house channels:

  • One Media Network - news, current affairs and lifestyle channel
  • Global Pinoy Cinema - Filipino movie channel

Former channels

  • GKTV 3/PCTV 3
  • Global News Network
  • Global Theater - Mandarin movie channel

References

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