RJTV reveals Digital terrestrial television launch date

By JM Melegrito - June 10, 2018 RJ Group of Companies founder and chairman Ramon Jacinto (Screengrab from RJTV) (photo)

Rajah Broadcasting founder confirms two channels included in upcoming DTT channel.

Ramon Jacinto, founder of Rajah Broadcasting Network, has announced on his weekly music show RJ Sunday Jam that the Digital terrestrial television (DTT) transmission of RJTV is tentatively set to start on Sunday, July 15.

The musician and businessman also confirms that RJTV and Oras ng Himala will occupy two of the six (6) channels that will occupy the broadcaster’s DTT channel. Currently, RJTV and Oras ng Himala is available on SKYcable Channel 19 and 114 respectively.

Rajah Broadcasting Network (RBN) launched RJTV 29 in April 1993, which was one of the first UHF broadcasters in the country. The channel was known in airing music-oriented shows, cartoons and Pinoy Wrestling, as well as claiming to have innovated the “Teleradyo” program format and Home TV Shopping.

RBN entered into a blocktime agreement with pay-TV broadcaster Solar Entertainment Corporation to broadcast the women’s lifestyle and entertainment channel 2nd Avenue on UHF 29 after the broadcasters had pulled out its channels on cable TV provider SKYcable in January 2008 because of content dispute, but retains the music shows “Thank God It’s RJ” every Friday nights and “RJ Sunday Jam” every Sunday morning.

The blocktimer uses UHF 22 (521.143 MHz) and UHF 30 (569.143 MHz) to test their DTT broadcast, which was eventually used for their encrypted DTT broadcast service EasyTV.

Last June 5, 2nd Avenue has ceased broadcasting on UHF 29 after RBN ended its blocktime agreement with Solar Entertainment to reinstate their own programming, as well as ending its analog broadcasts to convert UHF 29 (563.143 MHz) into a Full Digital terrestrial channel at a later date.

RJTV’s upcoming digital channel is set to have six channels, but no additional details on what could be the show’s content. Sources tell DTV Pilipinas that the broadcaster is considering to launch a “Teleradyo-style” sub-channels for its two radio stations, DZRJ Radyo Bandido 810 AM and RJ 100.3.

At the moment, its adjacent channel UHF 30 is still being used by the blocktimer for their encrypted DTT broadcast despite the agreement ending. Analog broadcasters are allowed to use the adjacent channels for DTT test broadcast.