The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has ordered all broadcasters in Mega Manila to switch off their analog TV signals within the next 12 months. This move is part of the country’s shift to digital broadcasting, which offers clearer picture quality, stronger signal reception, and more channel options.
Under the memorandum circular titled “Guidelines for the Switch-Off of the Analogue TV Service in Mega Manila,” TV networks must complete the transition unless the agency later grants more time. Many stations on the VHF band have already been airing both analog and digital signals for over eight years.
According to the NTC, around 80 percent of households in Mega Manila now use digital TV. This means only a small share still depends on analog reception. The circular, signed on Nov. 6, will take effect 15 days after publication, setting the target completion of the digital shift by November 2026.
To help remaining analog users adjust, the government will provide a 60-day countdown and regular public reminders before the final shutdown. The directive applies to the entire National Capital Region and the nearby provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Pampanga, and Bataan.