Analog TV broadcasts in Mega Manila to end November 22, NTC confirms

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
October 27, 2026

Photo courtesy: Malaya Business Insight

MANILA, Philippines — Analog television broadcasts in Mega Manila are scheduled to end on November 22, 2026, as the Philippines moves forward with its transition to digital television.

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) confirmed the shutdown, which will affect households still relying on traditional analog TV signals to watch free-to-air channels.

Once the transition takes effect, older televisions without digital receivers will no longer receive analog broadcasts through their existing antennas.

However, viewers will not necessarily need to buy a new television to continue watching their favorite programs.

The shutdown will cover Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, and portions of Laguna, Rizal, Pampanga, and Bataan reached by Mega Manila television broadcasts.

The transition is part of the government’s plan to replace analog broadcasting with Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting (DTTB), which uses digital signals to deliver television programs.

Under the NTC’s digital migration policy, television broadcasters in the covered areas are required to adopt the Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) standard.

For households using older analog television sets, a compatible digital set-top box can be connected to receive free-to-air digital channels.

Televisions with built-in ISDB-T receivers generally do not need an additional device. Viewers may also continue using suitable indoor or outdoor antennas to receive digital signals.

This means the traditional rooftop antenna, commonly known as labas na antenna, does not automatically become useless after the shutdown. What matters is whether the television or connected receiver can decode digital broadcasts.

Cable and satellite television subscribers are not directly affected by the shutdown, which applies to analog terrestrial broadcasts.

The shift to digital television is expected to improve picture and sound quality while allowing broadcasters to offer multiple channels through a single frequency.

Digital broadcasting also supports emergency warning features that can deliver public safety alerts to compatible receivers during disasters.

The transition in Mega Manila marks an important step in the country’s wider shift toward digital television, with other regions expected to follow under separate schedules.

With the shutdown approaching, households still using analog-only televisions are encouraged to check their equipment and prepare a compatible digital receiver to avoid losing access to free-to-air broadcasts.