MDTV To Reach 61% Of U.S. In 12 Months

Anne Schelle, executive director of the Open Mobile Video Coalition, a coalition of America’s broadcasters, today offered a prediction of the nascent technology’s prospects: “Between those stations already on-air and those who are coming soon, we project that mobile DTV will reach more than 71 million households…in the next 12 months.” That ‘s approximately 61% of the 115.9 million TV homes.

She continued: “The numbers of broadcasters on-the-air with mobile continues to rise, with 76 stations now on-the-air in 32 markets.  The latest information on available mobile DTV broadcasts can be found on the OMVC.org web site by clicking on the ‘Signal Map’ tab.”

With the ability to transmit live breaking news, critical emergency alerts and favorite programs to millions of viewers with a single TV transmission, mobile DTV is moving quickly from test mode to wide deployment with an eye on future capabilities such as electronic coupons, video-on-demand, and real-time integration with social media.  During the 2011 NAB  Show in Las Vegas next week, thousands of broadcast industry executives will get their first glimpse at the latest mobile DTV products now reaching retail stores as well as pioneering demonstrations of the flexible broadcast standard’s future capabilities. 

The Mobile DTV Pavilion, co-hosted by the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC), the Open Mobile Video Coalition (OMVC) and the NAB, will feature a variety of new consumer products being introduced this year for mobile DTV reception, along with technology demonstrations from well-known broadcast industry companies.  Of special note, both of the mobile DTV broadcaster consortia — the Mobile500 Alliance and Mobile Content Venture — will have a presence in the Mobile DTV Pavilion.

Starting Monday and continuing through Thursday, NAB Show visitors to the Mobile DTV Pavilion (Las Vegas Convention Center, North Hall, booth No. 4036, near to the walkway to the Las Vegas Hilton Convention Center), NAB show attendees will experience hands-on new product and service demonstrations by exhibiting companies at the Mobile DTV Pavilion including  LG Electronics,  Mobile Content Venture, The Mobile500 Alliance,  Hauppauge Computer Works, DTVinteractive,  Pixtree, Triveni Digital,  Crest Technology,  Decontis  and Axel Technology.

“At the 2011 NAB Show, in addition to the displays by our exhibitors, we’ll also be showcasing new mobile DTV consumer receivers in an experience zone to highlight how consumers are already enjoying the benefits of digital TV service on-the-go.  We’re encouraging all show attendees to stop by our device bar at the Mobile DTV Pavilion, where the latest MDTV products are on display,” Schelle said.

“You’ll find the new Valups ‘Tivizen’ receiver that plugs directly into the iPad and iPhone.  Cydle will show its iPhone cradle for MDTV reception, and portable Wi-Fi devices from Crestech will be on display.  RCA will demonstrate its new line of portable TV sets for Mobile DTV that’s now available for consumers and broadcasters.  We’ll show how easy it is to add live mobile DTV broadcast reception functionality to car with a special in-vehicle display from Winegard.  We’ll have prototype cell phones from LG Electronics and Samsung as well as Dell’s prototype netbook computer with built-in Mobile DTV, plus a variety of USB receivers for laptops on hand from manufacturers such as DTVinteractive, Hauppauge and Pixtree,” Schelle added.

The OMVC Experience Zone at the Mobile DTV Pavilion is sponsored by LG Electronics, Neustar, and Winegard.

 “The ATSC Mobile DTV Standard, A/153, enables broadcast television delivery of digital television transmissions to mobile and handheld devices,” said Mark Richer, ATSC president. “A new broadband delivery platform for mobile video, ATSC Mobile DTV is built on the existing backbone of digital TV transmission, with the potential of reaching millions of viewers with a single broadcast that can be received by an unlimited number of devices in a local market,” he said.

“Our members worked hard to forecast future applications for mobile DTV, and the ATSC Mobile DTV standard supports a wide variety of mobile services such as customizable emergency alerts, live audio feeds, datacasting with traffic maps, sports and news highlights that can be stored in memory on a device, video-on-demand, time-shifted television, mobile digital video recording, interactive polling, electronic coupons, 3D TV, targeted advertising, and an electric service guide for ease of tuning.  Many of these elements, including live and innovative new ‘Tweet-TV’ social media application for ATSC Mobile DTV, are being demonstrated for the first time at the 2011 NAB Show,” Richer added.

NAB Show exhibits are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Monday, April 11, through Wednesday, April 13, and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 14.