GMA Affordabox is a Philippine ISDB-Tb digital terrestrial television provider distributed and marketed by GMA New Media, a subsidiary of GMA Network. The service distributes digital set-top boxes and USB OTG dongles with free-to-air digital TV channels, broadcast markup language, emergency warning broadcast system, functional auto-on alert, digital display, and info display services to select areas in the Philippines.[1]

GMA Affordabox
Product type
OwnerGMA Network, Inc.
Produced byQiSheng Electronics Company Ltd.
CountryPhilippines
IntroducedJune 26, 2020; 4 years ago (2020-06-26)
MarketsPhilippines
Ambassador(s)For GMA Affordabox:
Heart Evangelista
Michael V.
Marian Rivera
Dingdong Dantes
Richard Yap
Bea Alonzo
For GMA Now:
Alden Richards
Websitewww.gmanetwork.com/affordabox

History

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In June 2010, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) announced that it would adopt the ISDB-Tb standard for digital broadcasting and issued a circular commanding that all the Country's television networks to switch-off their analog services on December 31, 2015, at 11:59 p.m. Philippine Standard Time (UTC+8).[2] Due to the delay of the release of implementing rules and regulations for digital television broadcast, the target date was moved to 2023, but it was later moved to 2026 due to constraints on the migration.[3]

In February 2013, GMA Network conducted field tests of digital broadcast using the Japanese standard ISDB-T in digital television on UHF Channel 27 (551.143 MHz), remaining unconvinced saying "European standard DVB-T2 is superior to ISDB-T."[4] In October 2013, the NTC issued a draft memorandum to adopt the Japanese/Brazilian standard as the sole standard in the delivery of digital terrestrial television (DTT) services in the Philippines.[5]

On May 15, 2019, GMA's digital broadcast was moved to its permanent frequency on Channel 15, due to its former frequency, Channel 27 being used by GMA News TV on June 4, 2019, as a deal between GMA and ZOE Broadcasting Network terminated, resulting to the channel's former frequency Channel 11 became silent on June 5, 2019.[6]

In June 2020, images of GMA's owned DTV set-top box were online and a teaser was revealed on June 17, 2020.[7] GMA Network launched GMA Affordabox on June 26, 2020 during Tutok to Win sa Wowowin.[1]

GMA Now

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On December 12, 2020, GMA Network released its mobile dongle designed for USB OTG-capable Android smartphone, dubbed as GMA Now on Lazada and Shopee online.[8] It allows users to watch free-to-air channels on their Android smartphones and has features such as video-on-demand to stream GMA's online content, a web chat, and interactive promotions to join. It supports Picture-in-picture mode and screen recording. GMA Network launched GMA Now on February 7, 2021 during All-Out Sundays, and announced it will support for iPhone users.[9][10]

List of Channels

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UHF Channel 15 (479.143 MHz)1

Channel Video Aspect Short name Programming Note
7.01 480i 16:9 GMA GMA (Main DZBB-TV programming) Commercial broadcast (15 kW)
7.02 GTV GTV
7.03 HEART OF ASIA Heart of Asia
7.06 I HEART MOVIES I Heart Movies
7.07 (UNNAMED) Test feed Black screen
7.08
7.11
7.31 240p GMA 1-Seg GMA 1seg broadcast

1 For Mega Manila only, channel and frequency varies on regional stations.

Channel and frequency

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Branding Callsign UHF Channel # Frequency Area of coverage
GMA Manila DZBB-TV 15 (Digital test broadcast) 479.143 MHz Metro Manila
GMA Dagupan DZEA-TV 38 (Digital test broadcast) 617.143 MHz Dagupan and Baguio/Northern Luzon and Central Luzon
GMA Mountain Province DZVG-TV 29 (Digital Test Broadcast) 563.143 MHz Mountain Province/Cordillera Administrative Region
GMA Ilocos Norte D-5-AS-TV 24 (Digital test broadcast) 533.143 MHz Laoag, Ilocos Norte/Northern Luzon
GMA Ilocos Sur DWBC-TV 15 (Digital test broadcast) 479.143 MHz Abra and Ilocos Sur/Northern Luzon
GMA Isabela DWLE-TV 15 (Digital test broadcast) 479.143 MHz Santiago and Isabela/Cagayan Valley
GMA Olongapo DWNS-TV 38 (Digital Test Broadcast) 617.143 MHz Olongapo, Zambales and Bataan/Central Luzon
GMA Batangas D-12-ZB-TV 32 (Digital test broadcast) 581.143 MHz Batangas/Calabarzon
GMA Occidental Mindoro D-13-ZR-TV 15 (Digital Test Broadcast) 479.143 MHz San Jose, Occidental Mindoro/Mimaropa
GMA Puerto Princesa DYPU-TV 15 (Digital Test Broadcast) 479.143 MHz Puerto Princesa, Palawan/Mimaropa
GMA Naga DWAI-TV 38 (Digital Test Broadcast) 617.143 MHz Naga/Bicol Region
GMA Legazpi DWLA-TV 41 (Digital Test Broadcast) 635.143 MHz Legazpi/Bicol Region
GMA Roxas DYAM-TV 15 (Digital test broadcast) 479.143 MHz Roxas/Western Visayas
GMA Iloilo DYXX-TV 29 (Digital test broadcast) 563.143 MHz Iloilo/Western Visayas
GMA Murcia DYAQ-TV 15 (Digital test broadcast) 479.143 MHz Murcia/Negros Occidental
GMA Bacolod DYGM-TV 44 (Digital test broadcast) 653.143 MHz Bacolod/Negros Occidental
GMA Dumaguete D-5-YB-TV 22 (Digital test broadcast) 521.143 MHz Dumaguete/Negros Oriental
GMA Cebu DYSS-TV 26 (Digital test broadcast) 545.143 MHz Metro Cebu/Central Visayas
GMA Tacloban DYCL-TV 34 (Digital Test broadcast) 593.143 MHz Tacloban City/Eastern Visayas
GMA Zamboanga DXLA-TV 41 (Digital Test broadcast) 635.143 MHz Zamboanga City/Zamboanga Peninsula
GMA Dipolog D-4-XT-TV 46 (Digital test broadcast) 665.143 MHz Dipolog/Zamboanga del Norte
GMA Cagayan de Oro DXJC-TV 47 (Digital test broadcast) 671.143 MHz Metro Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental/Northern Mindanao
GMA Ozamiz DXGM-TV 15 (Digital test broadcast) 479.143 MHz Ozamiz, Misamis Occidental/Northern Mindanao
GMA Bukidnon DXMK-TV 44 (Digital Test Broadcast) 653.143 MHz Mount Kitanglad, Bukidnon/Northern Mindanao
GMA Iligan DXRV-TV 33 (Digital Test broadcast) 587.143 MHz Iligan/Lanao del Norte/Northern Mindanao
GMA Davao DXMJ-TV 37 (Digital test broadcast) 611.143 MHz Metro Davao/Davao Region
GMA General Santos DXBG-TV 34 (Digital Test Broadcast) 593.143 MHz General Santos, South Cotabato/Soccsksargen
GMA Butuan DXBM-TV 15 (Digital test broadcast) 479.143 MHz Butuan/Caraga

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "GMA Network unveils 'GMA Affordabox' on its 70th anniversary". GMA News Online. June 26, 2020. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  2. ^ "Business - NTC chooses Japan digital TV standard for RP - INQUIRER.net". Philippine Daily Inquirer. June 9, 2010. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved May 8, 2011.
  3. ^ Cabuenas, Jon Viktor D. (February 14, 2017). "Gov't wants analog TV switched off by 2023". GMA News Online. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  4. ^ "GMA Network continues to reject Japanese digital TV standard". Inquirer.net. February 22, 2013. Archived from the original on May 3, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  5. ^ Amojelar, Darwin G. (October 11, 2013). "Philippines adopts Japan standard for digital TV". Interaksyon. Archived from the original on March 2, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  6. ^ Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas (May 15, 2019). "GMA Network Starts Digital TV Transmission using permanent frequency". GMA Network.com. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  7. ^ "Abangan ngayong June 26 sa Wowowin!". Facebook. June 17, 2020.
  8. ^ "GMA Now: Get your first dibs this 12.12!". GMA News Online. December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  9. ^ "GMA optimistic on 'GMA Now's' launch despite COVID-19 pandemic". GMA News Online. February 4, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  10. ^ "Watch TV for free on your Android device with GMA Now". GMA News Online. February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2021.