MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno S. Aquino III signed into law a measure that will “revitalize” the operations of state-owned and -operated television station People’s Television Network, Inc. or PTV-4.
"I am happy to announce that President Aquino signed into law Republic Act 10390, an Act Revitalizing the People’s Television Network, on March 14," Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said in a Malacañang press conference on Wednesday, March 20.
RA No. 103901 amends RA No. 7306 and is called “An Act Providing for the Establishment of the People’s Television Network, Incorporated, Defining Its Powers and Functions, Providing for Its Sources of Funding and for Other Purposes.”
GMA Network, Inc. strongly opposed the government’s plan to privatize state-owned broadcast station People’s Television Network, Inc. (PTV) as it would be unfairly competing with private players
Coloma said the new law addresses two main problems of PTV-4: the “financial hemorrhage” marked by the depletion of the station’s capital and the lack of a stable source of income.
New technology
He said that the new law will “also enable the network to keep abreast with latest technological developments” such as digital television and transmission upgrades to improve signal quality.
“We all know that by 2015, the ASEAN standard will be digital television. We have made some acquisitions of basic digital equipment in our studios now but we need to do more. Of course, we are still awaiting the promulgation of official policy on digital television but we’re confident that we can keep abreast with the rest of ASEAN and with the commercial broadcasting industry,” Coloma said.
“Because when digital transmission is fully in place, we will also be able to multiply the channels of government television -- from one free TV station to at least two more cable stations -- and we may be able to dedicate the cable stations to educational programming or cultural programming. There are also those who say that we should have programs on Philippine history and culture,” he said.
RA 103901 is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 3316 and House Bill No. 6703 passed by the Senate and House of Representatives on January 21, 2013 and December 19, 2012, respectively. - Rappler.com
No comments:
Post a Comment