SkyCable Digital

SkyCable Digital is a DTH Digital Cable TV Subscription Service of SkyCable, which has been the leading Cable TV service in the Philippines. It is wholly owned and operated by the Lopez Group of Companies.

Services and Availability
Services Available
The Digital Service can be used for SkyCable Brands, such as Silver, Gold and Platinum. It is a “must have” if you subscribe to SkyCable Prepaid Services, such as SkyCable Silver Prepaid and SkyCable Select Prepaid.

Purpose
The Purpose of the SkyCable Digital service is to make the channel signal clearer and making the sound sharper, and also lessen the cases of Cable Piracy in Metro Manila, especially in some parts in Manila and Quezon City.

Availability
It will eventually be available in all parts of Metro Manila, but for now it is only available to encrypted areas, such as Pasig City, City of Manila and Quezon City.

Functionalities

DIGIBOX
SkyCable Digital is using a DVB-C Box, which can also be called a Digital Set-top Box or simply called a “DIGIBOX”.

With the "DIGIBOX", you can avail these functionalities such as:
EPG

EPG or “Electronic Programme Guide”, which has also been used in Digital Cable and Satellite Services like BSkyB, Virgin Media or DStv, is one of the functionalities of the Digital Service which you can see the Current and the Next Program being shown on a particular channel.

But unlike the EPGs in other countries, they only show the “Current” and the “Next” programming and not the full program list.

A/V Setup
This is being used to change the Audio & Video Settings for all channels. You can change your TV Transmission to PAL/NTSC/SECAM. You can also change the Aspect Ratio to fit for the TV set used.

Password
This 4-numbered Password is being used to protect anyone from changing the Add Box Settings, and also used for the “Child Lock” function.

Games
There is also a Games function included in the Digital Service, such as Tetris and Gobang.

Problems
Channels Unavailable and Reassigned

There are some channels that aren’t available on the Digital Service that was available on SkySked Channel 11 and on the Analog Service, such as:
• Channel NewsAsia (Ch. 79) – Has a different channel assignment - Channel 67
• UniversiTV (Ch. 05) – SkyCable uses the Terrestrial Transmission of the Channel.
• ACQ-KBN / Sonshine TV 39 (Ch. 95) – SkyCable are using the Terrestrial Transmission of the Channel.
• 3ABN Channel 45 (Ch. 96) – SkyCable are using the Terrestrial Transmission of the Channel.

Aspect Ratio
Although the Digital Service has the function to change the Aspect Ratio, the normal dimensions that had been used by all channels in the Philippines is 4:3 so it result to a “Letterboxing”, unless change the Screen Mode to “Pan & Scan” to make it at least 14:9.

Late Transmission
Because of the “Digibox”, all channels (except GMA Network channels) will now be 3-4 seconds late. But for the case of GMA Network channels (GMA Channel 07 and Qtv Channel 11) which was already been late for 2-3 seconds in Analog Cable, so in total it is expected to have 5-7 seconds late.

This was been observed through manual observation.

Late Schedule Updates
Some of the TV Schedules shown on the Digital EPG are updated late, unlike the SkySked Channel 11 which had already been updated after a day, it sometimes last for 3 days.

It always occur at the last day of the month, where the last schedule that are seen on the EPG is “11:00 pm (or 11:30 pm) - <0:00 am - ”.

Difference with Other Countries
"Red Button"
The “Red Button” is known in the United Kingdom/Ireland and Australia as Active, which had been used by Sky News. Although the Digital Service has it on the Remote Control, but don’t have any actual use.

Record, Rewind Live TV
Because the Philippines are way-behind the technology with the Americas, UK and Ireland and even Malaysia, we don’t have the function of Recording or Rewind a Live TV Broadcast but maybe in the near future.

Dual Sound
Unlike it’s Singaporean counterpart, Starhub Cable TV, SkyCable Digital do not have the Dual Sound function which had been very famous for being used to broadcast the Original Japanese Audio on ANIMAX.

Competition
Global Destiny Cable
It’s Main Competitor in the Cable TV business, but according to the it’s article, which is also an Unconfirmed Report, that Global Destiny Cable have plans to become Digital within the year 2009 plus HD-compatible programming.

Dream Satellite TV
Which is the Only DTH Satellite TV Company in the Philippines, but unfortunately they almost have the same functions like the Digital Service without the ABS-CBN Channel Packages, (Except ABS-CBN 2 and Studio 23 only) etc.

Other Images

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See Also

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