Mobile DTV

[TvPat]

This is exciting. There is a new standard for mobile digital television that sends a separate stream from the DTV signal to small devices such as cell phones. Unlike sevices such as VCast from Verizon, this is free and is broadcast over the air from existing broadcasters. Since it is a lower resolution than a regular TV signal, it doesn't take up much bandwith from the HDTV signal. Columbus is the only market in the country that will have mobile broadcasts from all 5 major networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, CW)

Tim Feran wrote an article about it in the Dispatch this week.
http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/01/09/cellTV.html?sid=101

According to this article, Columbus, Ohio has the most stations (5) that will launch this technology this year.
http://www.marketingshift.com/2009/1/smaller-markets-omvc-mobile-dtv.cfm

You can read more about the technology here.
http://www.openmobilevideo.com/

[snodgrass23]

That sounds awesome!

[jaxter]

Hi,
Thanks for the useful links, it's really a revolution in TV technology. Soon I guess it would be a common place thing for everybody to use it conveniently. Most 3G enabled mobile service providers are also giving the same facility in India.

[TvPat]

WCMH-TV (Columbus, Ohio) is the First Media General Station to Launch MDTV

RICHMOND, Va., Sept. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Media General, Inc. (NYSE: MEG (http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/prnews?Page=Quote&Ticker=MEG)) said that WCMH-TV, its NBC affiliate in Columbus, Ohio, is the company's first broadcast television station to launch mobile digital television (MDTV). The real-time local broadcast service began on September 23, and can be received on suitably equipped laptops, mobile phones and other portable devices.

Marshall N. Morton, president and chief executive officer of Media General, said, "At Media General, our greatest strength is that we have the right local content for our marketplaces. Mobile DTV is an important new way to extend our reach and deliver this content to our viewers, when, where and how they want it. We already serve a growing audience over numerous personal wireless devices, with our e-mail, texting and mobile Web site services. Mobile DTV now allows us to deliver our television content to on-the-go consumers. We look forward to launching Mobile DTV in as many as 5-7 additional television markets in the coming months."

Dan Bradley, WCMH-TV vice president and general manager, said, "We are excited to launch this convenient and free new service. We are eager to meet the needs of our viewers with unique content wherever they go, helping to expand their viewing day. Launching a simulcast of WCMH's primary channel is the first step."

Media General is actively engaged with a leading group of broadcasters in deploying mobile television. Mobile DTV allows broadcasters to provide their local content to suitably equipped mobile devices, including live and on-demand video, local and national news from print and electronic sources, and sports and entertainment programming. Some devices have a "chipset" already built in to receive the signal, while others require an external USB-type or other tuner available at electronics stores. Research shows that mobile-equipped consumers watch more television than before and that they particularly appreciate convenient access to live, local news.

In the coming months, WCMH expects to provide unique graphics for the mobile stream and allow for spot advertising insertions much like cable systems do today.

About Media General
Media General is a leading provider of news, information and entertainment across multiple media platforms, serving consumers and advertisers in strong local markets, primarily in the Southeastern United States. Media General's operations are organized in five geographic market segments and a sixth segment that includes the company's interactive advertising services and certain other operations. The company's operations include 18 network-affiliated television stations and their associated Web sites, three metropolitan and 20 community newspapers and their associated Web sites, and more than 200 specialty publications that include weekly newspapers and niche publications targeted to various demographic, geographic and topical communities of interest. Many of the company's specialty publications have associated Web sites. Media General additionally operates three interactive advertising services companies: Blockdot, which specializes in interactive entertainment and advergaming technologies; DealTaker.com, a coupon and shopping Web site; and NetInformer, a leading provider of wireless media and mobile marketing services.

SOURCE Media General, Inc.

[hdtvnewbie]

Interesting twist to the same story:

Local Content Key To Mobile DTV Success
0Share Posted on 29 September 2010

Today the broadcast and newspaper company Media General announced its first launch of mobile digital television, at the station WCMH-TV in Columbus, Ohio–a town that sees itself as so sophisticated, its main shopping center is called not a mall but a “Fashion Place.”

Mobile DTV’s move into the (somewhat well-off) heartland comes after a report indicating that denizens consume more local information when they can get it on their phones, while broadcasters have recently formed a new organization dedicated to the technology. Mobile DTV clearly entices both purveyors and average consumers who can afford a smart phone, which in turn could have consequences on how other audio-visual content becomes available on mobiles.

Like LBS, or daily newspapers wondering how to compete with large news sites, it’s a a great opportunity to provide local, unique, and relevant content to consumers.

“At Media General, our greatest strength is that we have the right local content for our marketplaces. Mobile DTV is an important new way to extend our reach and deliver this content to our viewers, when, where and how they want it,” Marshall N. Morton, president and CEO of Media General, said in a release.

That jibes with findings from Rentrak Corporation. A few weeks ago the measurement and research firm released a report that said in Washington state, one of the first mobile DTV markets, “Viewers enthusiastically endorse the concept of Mobile Digital Television largely because of ready availability of live, local news broadcasts that are not easily found on competing devices and platforms. Fans of the new technology also say they are watching more television every day than before.”

Rentrak said consumers tuned in to 2,600 different TV programs specifically because they were available on mobiles, and watched while riding public transport, eating lunch, or waiting at doctors’ offices. And, compelling while hurricanes and tornados are still in season, mobile television “proved to be an invaluable source of information during approaching storms and other public safety emergencies where information was not immediately forthcoming from authorities.”

“Think locally” is also the mantra of the newly formed Mobile500 Alliance, at present a group of 30 American broadcast companies that operate 346 stations in 167 markets. Mobile500 plans to build on the work of the Open Mobile Video Coalition. Mobile500 Chair Colleen B. Brown said in a release: ”The expansion of mobile DTV provides local broadcasters with another way to deliver the information local viewers need and rely upon, especially as consumers increasingly turn to their portable devices for personalized content. We look forward to working with our broadcast partners, content providers, device manufacturers and others to develop an efficient and economical Mobile DTV network.”

Sure, technological issues need to be addressed, and broadcasters need to guarantee ROI measurements to advertisers. And while local is a great gateway drug for consumers to become mobile TV addicts, these consumers are soon going to demand premium entertainment video as well, especially considering the CTV merger in Canada. Maybe the Mobile500 Alliance should start recruiting content owners.

http://www.mobilemarketingwatch.com/local-content-key-to-mobile-dtv-success-9928/

[Scott]

Interesting. Thanks for the articles guys.

[Miranda]

I love my HD channels. While I was browsing over all the forums for HD, I have read a lot that say that HD isn't worth the money and that it is all hype. I think the opposite, I have it at home and I have it on my smart phone. I have the HTC My Touch. Being an employee of DISH, I was not so patiently awaiting the app to come to the Android market to be able to watch my DISH programming from my phone. Thus far, I have to recommend it to everyone who has a smart phone, and DISH at home to download this app.

-Miranda

[yingxuy]

If different from Verizon's VCAST sevices, which is free, is in the air from the existing radio broadcast.