Through our partner in the Philippines, 90 Degrees North, Inc., we’ve received a purchase order for a new 30 kW TUM panel UHF DTV antenna from CNN Philippines (CNN PH), which is owned and operated by Nine Media Corporation in association with Radio Philippines Network (RPN). Launched in 2015, CNN PH broadcasts 24-hour programming via terrestrial TV towers, supplemented by cable TV, satellite and streaming media services.

According to John Achilles Denna, CEO/COO of 90 Degrees North, CNN PH is taking proactive steps to transition from its analog VHF operation to the ISDB-T DTV broadcast standard. This move initially only affects their Mega Manila operation’s move to Channel 19, while the rest of the large station group will continue broadcasting in analog from terrestrial towers around the nation’s 7,000+ islands.

“Going DTV will help them manage their signal quality better and avoid signal interference from neighboring broadcasters, which will increase viewership throughout the Mega Manila market,” Denna explained.

Our Global Sales Director Cory Edwards adds, “Since the new TUM panel antenna is wideband and suitable for multiplexing channels, this gives CNN PH the flexibility to lease its spare bandwidth to other broadcasters—or to launch new channels of its own—to help defray its operational and upgrade costs. Having multiple transmitters feeding a single antenna also reduces operating costs.”

Since many Filipino TV broadcasters are also migrating to the UHF band and delivering a DTV signal to boost picture quality and reception across their markets, Edwards points out that this market poses tremendous growth opportunities for antennas. The country’s DTV transition is slated for completion by 2023.

We expect to ship the antenna to CNN PH in May for an early July installation.