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
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