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NATION
Broadcasting Corp. (NBC), a unit of MediaQuest Holdings
Inc., has revised its three-year-old technical
feasibility study to go into direct-to-home (DTH)
television service.
In a
submission to the National Telecommunications Commission
(NTC), the broadcasting firm said it will use three
satellite transponders on the Agila 2 satellite to
transmit TV and radio signals to DTH subscribers.
The
Agila 2 satellite is operated by Mabuhay Satellite
Corp., a subsidiary of Philippine Long Distance
Telephone Co. (PLDT). “The satellite carrier to be used
by NBC is Agila
2,” NBC told the commission.
To
receive signals from the satellite, the customer should
have an Integrated Receiver Decoder (IRD), satellite
dish and NBC Smart Card connected to the television set.
IRD is
actually a satellite receiver with a built-in decoder
for unscrambling subscription channels. The device
converts digital signals to analog code.
The
satellite dish serves as antenna of the system. Signals
are received when the dish is aligned with an orbiting
satellite. It is detachable and may be moved from one
place to another.
The
Smart Card is similar to a cellular phone SIM
(subscriber identification module) card. The card
assigns an identification number that the orbiting
satellite will recognize and respond to when access is
cleared and granted by the company’s customer care
system.
“DTH
refers to the use of satellite signals to receive
programs via the TV set. Similar to a cellular phone,
there is a number that identifies the user. The DTH
company sends the household or user signal and bills it
accordingly,” NBC said.
DTH is
the reception of satellite programs with a personal dish
in an individual home. It does away with the need for a
local cable operator and puts the broadcaster directly
in touch with the consumer.
“DTH can
also reach the remotest of areas since it does away with
the intermediate step of using cables or wires that come
from the cable operator to your house. The user can scan
as many as 700 channels,” NBC said.
NBC’s
2004 study was conceptualized by Engineer Alfredo
Ceralde who passed away in 2006. As such, NBC could not
conclude the presentation of evidence as to the
feasibility of its application, the company told the
commission.
“In
order to complete the presentation of its evidence in
establishing the merit behind its application for the
installation, operation, and maintenance of a DTH
system, [NBC] has recently engaged the services of Engr.
Alexander Paredes to prepare and replace the March 2004
technical feasibility study,” NBC said.
NBC
earlier told the NTC it tends to rake in as much as
P736.07 million in gross revenues from the sale of
digital satellite receiver (DSR) and dish packs, as well
as prepaid subscription fees.
NBC
plans to offer the Silver Bundle and Gold Bundle.
The
Silver Bundle is priced at P8,888.88. The fee includes
the DSR, dish installation and four months subscription.
Monthly reload fee is P444 using prepaid cards.
The Gold
Bundle costs P9,999.99. The subscription will carry
additional channels that include Cinemax, Disney, Star
Sports, ESPN, Living Asia, Australia Network, Deutsche
Welle and KBS World.
The
price includes the DSR, dish installation and a
four-month subscription. The monthly reload fee, using
prepaid cards, is P666. |
