While waiting for regulators’ go-ahead to introduce digital programming in its UHF Channel Studio 23, ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. has acquired a media asset management system from IBM Philippines.

A first in the TV industry, IBM’s system will digitize all of ABS-CBN’s content while reducing post-production, archiving and storage costs.

Digital TV programming is seen to open up new revenue streams for ABS-CBN. Digital TV broadcasting will allow the network to open additional channels since digital TV frequencies can carry more channel streams in one UHF frequency. Additional channels and more interactive programs mean more advertising opportunities.

Another benefit of digital TV for ABS-CBN is that the technology eliminates the need to put up a similar amount of infrastructure investment for additional analog facilities just to improve signal quality outside Metro Manila, where reception is poor.

And with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) still mum on the direction it will take on digital TV, having a scalable solution based on open standards, such as IBM’s media asset management system, will enable ABS-CBN to respond quickly to the regulator’s move.

The network did not disclose how much it spent to acquire IBM’s system.