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The Open Mobile Video Coalition (OMVC) announced today that the
broadcasting industry is on track to develop standards and launch
services for mobile digital television (mobile DTV) in 2009. The group
stated that recent Independent Demonstration of Viability (IDOV) trials
showed that DTV-based mobile video technologies are feasible.
“We are on schedule for the 2009 rollout of
commercial mobile DTV,” said Brandon Burgess,
president of the OMVC and C.E.O. of ION Media Networks. “The
mobile field trials are an important milestone in setting a standard for
this incredibly promising technology, and our industry is pulling
together in an unprecedented way to realize the promise for broadcasters
and American consumers. I’m grateful for the
leadership of OMVC members and our partners and for their help in
realizing the vision of mobile DTV.”
The OMVC is an association of commercial and public television
broadcasters representing over 800 television stations, which came
together in 2007 to accelerate the development of mobile digital
television. The opportunity inherent in this new technology is
significant. A recent, comprehensive marketplace study projected a
potential $2 billion annually in mobile digital television advertising
revenue – if broadcasters move quickly. They
must agree on a single standard by early 2009 –
approximately the same time that TV stations in the U.S. must complete
their transition to digital-only broadcasting –
and begin rolling out mobile DTV services by the end of 2009.
“We are laser-focused on finalizing a
technology standard for mobile DTV, and working with technology
companies and service operators to launch services beginning next year,”
said Anne Schelle, executive director, OMVC. “Mobile
DTV represents a unique opportunity to make the most of the industry’s
greatest assets – our spectrum and content –
and I’m pleased that we have made incredible
progress so far on all fronts, engaging broadcasters, device makers and
carriers in a unified effort to make mobile DTV a reality.”
OMVC has been working with the Association for Maximum Service
Television (MSTV), the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and
the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) for the past six months
to conduct trials for pedestrian and high-speed mobile digital
television reception. OMVC initiated the IDOV trials at ATSC’s
request to accelerate the adoption of an effective, mobile DTV standard.
ATSC is the recognized standard-setting body for this kind of technology.
The field trials were conducted in March and April of 2008 in the San
Francisco Bay Area and Las Vegas. Additional lab testing will be
completed over the next several weeks. OMVC is confident that it will
complete the IDOV field and lab tests and have results available in time
to meet the mid-May timeframe established by ATSC. The trials constitute
a critical first step toward the ATSC’s
adoption of a standard that will enable broadcasters to launch mobile
DTV services that will effectively serve the American public.
Preliminary and partial results of the trials have been encouraging, and
include the following findings:
Mobile DTV is feasible: The trials show that both High VHF and UHF
mobile reception works at pedestrian and highway speeds.
Mobile reception can be achieved as far as 40 miles from the
transmitter.
None of the systems interfere with normal digital broadcasting.
The three systems that have been subjected to preliminary testing and
evaluation are: the MPH (Mobile-Pedestrian-Handheld) system jointly
developed by LG Electronics and Harris Corporation; and the A-VSB system
jointly developed by Samsung Electronics, Co. Ltd and Rohde & Schwarz;
and a third system jointly developed by Thomson and Micronas (T/M).
All data will be compiled and evaluated for a final report to the ATSC
in May. Next steps will include further testing and consumer trials.
About the Open Mobile Video Coalition
The Open Mobile Video Coalition is a voluntary association of television
broadcasters whose mission is to accelerate the development of mobile
digital video in the United States. The OMVC is composed of twenty
members that own and operate over 450 commercial television stations, as
well as the Association of Public Television Stations, which represents
an additional 360 public television stations. Membership in the OMVC is
open to all U.S.-based television broadcasters. Members are committed to
fostering open competition in the development of products and services
related to television. For more information, please visit http://www.omvc.org.