Smart myTV faces more delays

Yesterday’s news about the PLDT’s new digital TV offering in Smart myTV isn’t any good to potential customers as more groups are moving to block the roll-out. This time, it’s the Philippine Cable Television Association (PCTA).

Well, it’s becoming more obvious. Aside from the fact that the there are no existing rules with the NTC on digital TV/broadcasting. Inquirer.net reports:

The Philippine Cable Television Association (PCTA) has formally moved to block the mobile TV service myTV of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. and its subsidiaries, but will be sparing the 3GTV service of PLDT’s rival, Globe Telecom Inc.

The PCTA has close to 300 members, including SkyCable. Among the many issues the cable group had against myTV was that it uses DTTH (Direct terrestrial television for handheld) bandwidth.

The NTC is currently reworking its guidelines on digital TV and has allowed PLDT’s wholly owned Smart Communications Inc., which handles billing for the myTV service, to continue the demo as long as it is offered for free.

Globe Telecoms has a similar offering with their 3GTV (Globe Mobile TV) but since it is stream via the 3G network, it’s cover under their earlier franchise.

That means access to Smart myTV is still free and PLDT cannot start charging subscribers unless this issue is resolve with the National Telecommunications Commission. Smart previously announced that free public access was only until August 31.

Besides, the two available handsets for digital TV (the Nokia N77 and N92) are still very expensive and in the range of Php18k to Php20k a pop. The other question would be “would you buy these specific handsets just because of the mobile TV capability?”.