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Mobile DTV at CES 2012

Jason F — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:58:42 +0000

January is upon us and the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is right around the corner. Hosted in Las Vegas, the international trade show has always been a place to see new product releases from the largest and most popular technology companies in the world.

For Mobile DTV fans, CES 2012 will feature 10 exhibitors this year with ATSC-M/H products and/or services. With help from sponsorship from the Open Mobile Video Coalition, the Mobile DTV TechZone booths will be placed in the LVCC, Central Hall area. Exhibitors include: Crest Technology, Dyle Mobile TV, LG Electronics, MCV, Mobile500 Alliance, Mobile-EAS, Samsung Telecommunications America, Siano Mobile Silicon, Triveni Digital, and Trust Authority.

More information on Mobile DTV at CES 2012:

Mobile DTV TechZone CES Webpage

Mobile DTV TechZone Exhibitors CES Webpage

U.S. Broadcasters Form Mobile500 Alliance

Jason F — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 17:17:07 +0000

Mobile DTV’ers will be happy to hear that a new alliance was formed earlier this month. Although the coalition only represents 30 broadcast companies, the alliance forms a total of 346 full-power television broadcast stations which will help bring mobile digital television to over 90% of the U.S. population.

The Mobile500 Alliance is an open, inclusive alliance organization, and in fact, just days before the press release, two dozen broadcasters had signed on to the Mobile500 Alliance….so one would assume that we’ll see more broadcasters hop on board before Mobile DTV’s nationwide rollout.

You can learn more about the Mobile 500 Alliance at their website: www.mobile500alliance.com

Would spectrum grab by FCC prevent Mobile DTV deployment?

Jason F — Tue, 18 May 2010 01:21:49 +0000

Would the FCC Broadband Plan prevent over-the-air broadcaster’s from deploying Mobile DTV (MDTV)? Not so, says FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski.

“Under the incentive auction plan, broadcasters will be able to provide mobile DTV, both licensees that choose to retain all 6 Megahertz, and those that choose to share,”

Genachowski addressed many concerns by broadcasters last month at the 2010 National Association of Broadcasters Show; including the “voluntary” spectrum auction in which broadcasters could participate in by “choice”.

The auction is part of a five-year plan for spectrum reclamation and allocation to wireless companies, so that they may continue to offer wireless services for mobile users with products such as smart phones, netbooks, and laptops. The FCC believes that this action (along with others involved with the Broadband Plan), would help resolve the looming crisis for wireless companies.

Videos of Mobile DTV surface on YouTube

Jason F — Sun, 16 May 2010 23:01:47 +0000

As Mobile DTV testing begins in select markets, users of those devices have already begun uploading videos to YouTube.

Here we see a mobile dtv tester with a MDTV dongle plugged into a netbook while driving around in Orlando, Florida. Note the consistently clear reception while driving around in a rain storm.

In this second video, the same user (JDTV Clips) gives some details of his antenna (small horizontal loop antenna) setup along with signal strength readings.

Official MDTV Release Date?

Although we’ve seen Mobile DTV test videos at CES, NAB, and YouTube, the Open Mobile Video Coalition has not released an official on-line date for mobile DTV yet. MDTVReview.com has yet to find any MDTV product release dates as well.

Mobile DTV demonstrated at CES 2010

Broadcast and Mobile DTV News Around the Net: March 2010 Edition

Jason F — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 06:13:32 +0000

Last Updated: 3-1-10

March 1st, 2010
FCC thinks broadcast spectrum has, “a massive amount of unlocked value” for wireless spectrum
Source: BroadcastEngineering.com
FCC chairman, Julius Genachowski, Julius Genachowski, recently commented on why some of the TV broadcast spectrum should be considered for use by the wireless spectrum.

“a massive amount of unlocked value”

“About 300MHz of spectrum have been set aside for broadcast TV,”

“In markets with less than 1 million people, only 36MHz are typically used for broadcasting. In cities with more than 1 million people, on average about 100MHz are used. Even in our very largest cities, at most only about 150MHz out of 300MHz are used.”

The FCC recently proposed a voluntary plan for broadcasters to give up some of their spectrum with the benefit of receiving compensation, but the National Association of Broadcasters have claimed that the recent rollout of mobile digital television, MDTV, will utilize some of the unused spectrum.

Mobile DTV News: Feb 2010 Edition

Jason F — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:43:06 +0000

Last Updated: 2-23-10

On Feb 14, Eric Taub from The New York times penned a smashing piece on Mobile DTV titled, “Local TV for Devices on the Move”.

Notable quotes,

….30 stations in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle and Washington have installed the necessary equipment, at a cost of $75,000 to $150,000.

In reference to costs for each station to add Mobile DTV broadcast technology to their existing TV towers.

Seems like a small invesment for broadcasters with a big payoff potential, and this comes at a time when local stations are losing out on content distribution rights to Internet TV (ie: Hulu).

The technology will be used on new portable televisions with up to 10-inch screens, and smartphones and laptops with special adapters will also receive the signals. The devices must be within about 60 miles of a broadcast tower for a picture as clear as the television at home.

Devices must be within 60 miles or less to receive a signal? That number seems a bit exaggerated; guess will wait and see what innitial results will show for mobile DTV tests over the next few months.

Once the signals are switched on and the devices gain in popularity, broadcasters may add specialty channels like sports and weather, offering more revenue opportunities.

Music to my hears….

The Mobile DTV standard also allows for two-way communication. When viewing an ad, a viewer may push a button to see more information or have it sent by e-mail. The system can also be used for voting, polling and audience measurement.

Mobile DTV technology will make accesibility possible between consumer and TV broadcaster which in turn will also bring more profitability and support for the MDTV platform.

If Mobile DTV proves popular, it could threaten FLO TV, a subscription service developed by Qualcomm that offers programming from the four major commercial broadcast networks and Comedy Central, ESPN and others.

I’m sure there is enough room for both mobile tv technologies to exist and as long as both technologies survive, competition between Mobile DTV and FLO TV will be beneficial consumers.

Be sure to check out the full New York Times article at: Local TV for Devices on the Move

Will MDTV support Closed Captioning?

Jason F — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:26:27 +0000

Yes according to a recent blog post by Jamie Berke’s deafness blog at about.com but not without caveat. She cites a recently published document, “OMVC Mobile TV Use Cases” by the Open Mobile Video Coalition, and questions whether or not Closed Captioning will be utilized by manufactures of MDTV sets and broadcasters.

Our question at MDTV Review is: Will Government Legislators regulate this new broadcast technology for deaf viewers or will it be left up for business to decide?

Mobile DTV News Weekly Wrap Up for 2-12-10

Jason F — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:54:58 +0000

What’s new in the world of Mobile DTV? Lots. For starers, FLO TV (mobile TV pay service), scored mega buzz with their Super Bowl commercials last Sunday. One starring CBS sportscaster Jim Nants who gives an injury report on a man shopping with his wife,

and the other featuring historical events caught on live TV with a small cameo from Will.I.Am,

Both commercials were hot topics on for days on social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and the blogoshpere.

FCC to pay broadcasters for networks?

Newsweek mentioned yesterday that the FCC is considering paying broadcasters to take some of the valuable TV broadcast spectrum to satisfy the growing needs of cell phone providers. The plan isn’t public yet though Newsweek received information from an FCC official who asked to remain anonymous. (Link to Newsweek story)

One has to wonder if there is any danger with MDTV getting off the ground in 2010 with less broadcast spectrum if the plan goes through?

ATSC hosts Seminar on Mobile DTV

The Feb. 3, day-long event in Washington provided visitors with details of the ATSC Mobile DTV Standard and broadcast facility implementation and operation of Mobile DTV. Presentations from the seminar will be made available at the following ATSC website: ATSC 2010 Mobile DTV Seminar.

Open Mobile Video Coalition hires Harris Interactive and Rentrak to measure MDTV

The Open Mobile Video Coalition has chosen two companies to measure mobile DTV viewing habits during a “Mobile DTV Consumer Showcase” consumer trial in Washington, D.C. later this year. Both companies, Harris Interactive and Rentrak will track usage habits, propensity to tolerate pay services, interactive services of Mobile DTV watchers during the trial. More info here: OMVC Taps Harris Interactive, Rentrak to Measure Mobile DTV Trial

Mobile DTV demonstrated at CES 2010

Jason F — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:32:21 +0000

Here are some YouTube videos of “MDTV” being demonstrated at the 2010 Consumer Electronic Show.

Up first is NetworkWorld.TV’s Mobile DTV preview at CES.

Description: NetworkWorld does a fantastic job showing various MDTV products from vendors including LG and Samsung. Alo includes interviews with David Arland w/ Open Mobile Video Coalition, and John Godfrey w/ Samsung Electronics America.

Video of the Samsung Moment cell phone w/ an MDTV tuner

Description: Here’s a hands-on test with the first mobile cell phone in the US market to receive an MDTV tuner, the Samsung Moment. Along with the built-in tuner, the “Moment” is a smart phone outfitted with the Google Android operating system.

LG’s DP570MH Mobile Digital Television with DVD Playback,

Mobile DTV at CES 2012