GMA urges NTC to delay analog TV shutdown to protect low-income households

GMA formally asks the Philippine government regulators to hold off on turning off traditional analog TV signals.

GMA urges the National Telecommunications Commission to delay analog TV shutdown

To preserve analog signal or not?

The National Telecommunications Commission has set November 22, 2026, as the official date to turn off traditional TV signals, which may leave thousands of Filipino households with black screens.

The transition from old analog broadcasts to clear digital signals aims to provide viewers with sharper picture quality, better sound, and access to special emergency alerts during typhoons and disasters.

While regulatory surveys indicate that over 90 percent of households in the capital region already have digital-ready TVs or receiver boxes, the remaining percentage consists of poorer families who still rely on traditional TV sets. Without a government plan to distribute affordable or subsidized converter boxes, which typically cost between PHP 500 and PHP 700, these families risk losing access to free news and daily entertainment.

For millions of Filipinos, free TV is a primary source of vital news during storms and national crises. GMA's appeal asks regulators to slow down the process to allow government agencies and broadcasters to help families prepare. Granting families more time will reduce unnecessary financial pressure on those who cannot immediately afford digital upgrades, ensuring that the modernization of Philippine television does not leave any family in the dark.

What do you guys think?