ABS-CBN TV Plus


ABS-CBN TV Plus is a Philippine ISDB-T encrypted digital terrestrial television provider owned and operated by ABS-CBN Convergence, a subsidiary of ABS-CBN. 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. As of February 2020, ABS-CBN TVplus has sold over 9 million units of its set-top boxes.

History

ABS-CBN Corporation initially applied for a license from the National Telecommunications Commission 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, 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, later UHF Channel 43, 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. 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. 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 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".
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 signed a memorandum of agreement with ABS-CBN for the inclusion of the Emergency Warning Broadcast system 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. It includes cable channels from sister company Creative Programs: O Shopping, Jeepney TV, and Myx. 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.
On May 5, 2020, ABS-CBN TVplus was affected by the cease-and-desist order issued by the National Telecommunications Commission and Solicitor General Jose Calida due to the expiration of ABS-CBN's franchise. 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 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 cease operations due to the alias cease-and-desist order issued by the National Telecommunications Commission and Solicitor General Jose Calida. Yey! and Asianovela Channel ceased broadcasting, while Cine Mo!, TeleRadyo, Jeepney TV and KBO are still available on Sky Cable and other cable providers. However, digital broadcasts of other networks such as GMA Network and IBC remained on-air on TVplus.

Offered services

1
ChannelVideoAspectPSIP Short NameProgrammingNote
1.01480iJEEPNEY TV3Jeepney TVEncrypted
Test broadcast2
1.02480iASIANOVELA CHANNEL3Asianovela ChannelEncrypted
Test broadcast2
1.03480iCINEMO!Cine Mo!Encrypted
Test broadcast2
1.04480iYEY!Yey!Encrypted
Test broadcast2
1.05480iTeleRadyoTeleRadyoCommercial test broadcast 2
1.06480iKBOKapamilya Box OfficePay-per-view
Encrypted
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UHF Channel 16 1
ChannelVideoAspectPSIP Short NameProgrammingNote
2.01480iKnowledge ChannelKnowledge ChannelCommercial broadcast
2.02480iO SHOPPINGO ShoppingCommercial broadcast
2.03480iASIANOVELA CHANNELAsianovela ChannelEncrypted
Test broadcast2
2.04480iMOVIE CENTRALMovie CentralEncrypted
Test broadcast2
2.05480iJEEPNEY TVJeepney TVEncrypted
Test broadcast2
2.06480iMYXMyxEncrypted
Test broadcast2
2.31240pASIANOVELA ONESEGAsianovela Channel OneSeg1seg
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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:
BrandingCallsignCh. #FrequencyArea of Coverage
ABS-CBN ManilaDWWX-TV43 647.143 MHzMetro Manila
ABS-CBN ManilaDWWX-TV16 485.143 MHzMetro Manila
ABS-CBN BaguioD-3-ZO-TV30 569.143 MHzBaguio
ABS-CBN BulacanDWBY-TV34 593.143 MHzSan Miguel, Bulacan
ABS-CBN PampangaDWIN-TV34 593.143 MHzSan Fernando, Pampanga
ABS-CBN TarlacDWTC-TV34 593.143 MHzTarlac
ABS-CBN BatangasDZAD-TV40 629.143 MHzBatangas
ABS-CBN San PabloDWLY-TV38 617.143 MHzSan Pablo, Laguna
ABS-CBN IloiloDYAF-TV25 539.143 MHzIloilo
ABS-CBN BacolodDYXL-TV22 521.143 MHzBacolod
ABS-CBN CebuDYCB-TV37 611.143 MHzCebu
ABS-CBN CebuDYCB-TV36 605.143 MHzCebu
ABS-CBN Cagayan de OroDXCS-TV40 629.143 MHzCagayan de Oro
ABS-CBN Cagayan de OroDXCS-TV22 521.143 MHzCagayan de Oro
ABS-CBN DavaoDXAS-TV35 599.143 MHzDavao