ABS-CBN TV Plus

ABS-CBN TV Plus (formerly Sky TV+ and stylized as ABS-CBN TVplus, repackaged in 2021 as ABS-CBN TVplus Digital TV Receiver) is a Philippine ISDB-T encrypted digital terrestrial television provider owned and operated by ABS-CBN Convergence, a subsidiary of ABS-CBN Corporation. The service distributes digital set-top boxes with freemium and free-to-view digital TV channels, Broadcast Markup Language, Emergency Warning Broadcast system, and pay per view services to selected areas in the Philippines. In order to avail the service, users must buy an ABS-CBN TVplus set-top box and activate it through ABS-CBNmobile SIM card; activation requirements for the digital channels through other mobile networks later became available around the second quarter of 2018.

History

ABS-CBN Corporation initially applied for a license from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to operate a digital terrestrial television service in the country back in 2007. ABS-CBN planned to utilize multiplex to offer ABS-CBN, the defunct Studio 23 (now S+A), and 5 additional specialty TV channels. The conglomerate is expecting to spend around ₱1 billion annually for the next five years for their DTT transition. ABS-CBN utilized UHF channel 51 Manila (695.143 MHz), later UHF Channel 43 (647.143 MHz), for test broadcasts in the DVB-T format. ABS-CBN was expected to begin digital test broadcasts In January 2009.

In 2010, the NTC announced that it would formally adopt the Japanese standard ISDB-T for digital broadcasting and issued a circular for ordering the entire country's television networks to switch-off their analog services on December 31, 2015, at 11:59 p.m. Philippine Standard Time (UTC+8). Due to continuous delay of release of the implementing rules and regulations for digital television broadcast, the target date was moved to 2023.

In April 2011, ABS-CBN announced further details about its DTT plans, which will offer ABS-CBN and Studio 23 (now S+A). Five new channels will be exclusively available to its digital users which will be offered once the digital broadcast starts. The specialty TV channel line-up includes one news channel, two youth-oriented channels, an educational channel, and a movie channel. ABS-CBN is also planning to utilize the 1seg (one segment) broadcast standard for handheld devices.

The set-top box, then known as TV+, was previewed on ABS-CBN's morning show ''Umagang Kay Ganda'' on March 22, 2012, where they offered free samples to their studio audiences. Since then until its official launch, TV+ was distributed as a prize for the quiz segment of DZMM's ''"Failon Ngayon sa DZMM"'' and "''Ang Mahiwagang Blackbox''" (The Magical Blackbox).

On December 18, 2014, the NTC issued the implementing rules and regulations for digital terrestrial television broadcast in the country. ABS-CBN Corporation officially launched ABS-CBN TVplus on February 11, 2015, through a ceremonial switch-on at the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center.

In July 2015, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) signed a memorandum of agreement with ABS-CBN for the inclusion of the Emergency Warning Broadcast system (EWBS) in ABS-CBN TVplus. The feature was activated during the Metro Manila Wide Shake Drill held on July 30 through an over-the-air update.

In March 2016, in celebration of its first anniversary, a redesigned version of the set-top box was released, with a new processor and support for HDMI and HDTV resolutions; the latter feature was later removed when the price of TVplus was reduced on the fourth quarter of 2016.

In May 2016, TVplus was awarded two bronze Stevies for "Best in New Product Innovation" and "Best in Branded Development" in the 2016 Asia Pacific Stevie Awards.

Recently, TVplus updated ABS-CBN's main channel by putting their Regional Network feed in provinces that has their audiences.

On July 30, 2018, ABS-CBN TVplus conducted free trial of the new set of freemium channels using UHF Channel 16 (485.143 MHz). It includes cable channels from sister company Creative Programs: O Shopping (also aired as overnight programming for ABS-CBN), Jeepney TV, and Myx (which previously has a complimentary channel Myx2 before TVplus launched in 2015). Also included in the lineup are two new exclusive digital channels, Asianovela Channel and Movie Central. Initially, the five new channels will be beamed from Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Cagayan de Oro, with plans to extend its coverage to existing ABS-CBN DTV stations.

On November 10, 2018, ABS-CBN TVplus launched its digital service in Batangas, making its 16th signal coverage area.

On June 1, 2019, ABS-CBN launched a digital TV dongle called ABS-CBN TVplus Go for Android smartphones. It was initially available in Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, Benguet, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Batangas, Iloilo, Bacolod, Metro Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Metro Davao.

As of February 2020, ABS-CBN TVplus has sold over 9 million units of its set-top boxes.

On May 5, 2020, ABS-CBN TVplus was affected by the cease-and-desist order (CDO) issued by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and Solicitor General Jose Calida due to the lapsing of ABS-CBN's franchise ''(unable to renew the franchise before its expiration date)''. ABS-CBN's main channel and S+A ceased broadcasting, as well as the regional digital stations operated by ABS-CBN. Some TVplus channels resumed broadcasting on May 8, but in a limited coverage (Metro Manila, Laguna province, Iloilo province, and selected areas of Baguio) through a blocktime agreement with an unnamed third-party broadcast company. On June 1, 2020, Jeepney TV and Asianovela Channel resumed broadcasting and took over the channel spaces of ABS-CBN and S+A respectively.

On June 30, 2020, all the digital channels of ABS-CBN TVplus were forced to stop operations due to the alias cease-and-desist order (ACDO) issued by the National Telecommunications Commission. Yey! and Asianovela Channel stopped broadcasting, while Cine Mo!, TeleRadyo, and Jeepney TV are still available on Sky Cable and other cable providers. However, digital broadcasts of other broadcast television networks remained on-air on TVplus.

During the same Congressional hearing, ABS-CBN Corporation confirmed that they have stopped selling TVplus boxes in February 2020 after their subsidiary and its parent, ABS-CBN Convergence failed to secure a separate legislative franchise during that same month.

Recent developments

In September 2021, the unsold units of ABS-CBN TVplus were renamed as ABS-CBN TVplus Digital TV Receiver with a new packaging. These units are now promoted as a regular digital TV set-top box (similar to TV5's Sulit TV and GMA Affordabox) in the sense that it also receives any free-to-air digital channels. The tagline ''"Ang Mahiwagang Black Box"'' (The Magic Blackbox) is also withdrawn, alongside traces of ABS-CBN's free-to-air digital channels and its Premium Channels.

Offered services

ABS-CBN TVplus

An original and flagship product, formerly called ''Ang Mahiwagang Black Box'', an encrypted digital television converter box that can be used on both house and vehicle use.

ABS-CBN TVplus Internet

A variation of ABS-CBN TVplus that includes an internet dongle stick that connects the TV to the internet via prepaid plans of its selected provider ABS-CBNmobile. It was available in selected areas only, until was discontinued after the closure of ABS-CBNmobile in 2018.

ABS-CBN TVplus Go

An encrypted dongle stick that allows Android smartphones to watch the digital channels that ABS-CBN TVplus can receive and is mainly meant for outdoor use.

Channel line-up

UHF Channel 43 (647.143 MHz) ¹

UHF Channel 16 (485.143 MHz) ¹

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

² These channels are encrypted and protected using their own encryption system, thus requiring SMS activation to access those channels in a limited time according to the subscription. In addition, all non-encrypted digital terrestrial TV channels broadcast within the area of the household will also be carried.

³ After ABS-CBN was issued a cease-and-desist order on May 5, 2020, the respective channel spaces of ABS-CBN and S+A were temporarily replaced by Jeepney TV and Asianovela Channel on June 1, 2020.

Channel and frequency

Channel 1 of the ABS-CBN TVplus broadcasts the following channels per their respective broadcast areas:

See also

*GMA Affordabox
*Sulit TV

References

External links

Official website
(archived)

{{CATV Africa, Asia, Middle East and Oceania

ABS-CBN Convergence
Assets owned by ABS-CBN Corporation
Digital television in the Philippines
Products introduced in 2015
Products and services discontinued in 2020
2015 establishments in the Philippines
2020 disestablishments in the Philippines