NAB: Fast-track mobile DTV standard adoption

Mobile digital television content could earn broadcast television an additional $2 billion in annual revenue by 2012 if an industry standard is adopted and deployed imminently, according to a new study commissioned by the National Association of Broadcasters trade association's technology advocacy program FASTROAD (Flexible Advanced Services for Television & Radio On All Devices). According to the NAB, the success of new mobile and handheld DTV services in the U.S. hinges on releasing an industry-accepted Advanced Television Standards Committee standard for M/H DTV by early 2009--delaying adoption of the standard will dramatically undermine the revenue potential for both local and network broadcasters. By accelerating adoption efforts, on the other hand, local stations and networks can expect to share about $1.1 billion annually via new advertising revenue, pay-per-view mobile programming and operator deals--their content syndication partners would add about $900 million to their balance sheets per year.

The NAB cites rival standards developed by the Open Mobile Video Coalition and the Advanced Television Systems Committee among the mobile DTV proposals presently under consideration.

For more on the NAB report:
- read this release

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