OMVC: Mobile DTV on pace to reach two-thirds of U.S. by 2012

Ninety-six U.S. stations are now on-the-air with mobile digital television services, a number expected to grow to 126 stations across 48 markets by the end of 2011, according to the Open Mobile Video Coalition of America broadcaster association. The OMVC adds that mobile DTV is on track to reach two-thirds of U.S. households by 2012, enabling consumers to access live, local programming on the go.

In conjunction with the latest status update, the OMVC announced its Mobile DTV Trust Authority initiative is now operational, adding that several companies are now in talks to develop new mobile DTV products operating with conditional access. Managed by Neustar, the Mobile DTV Trust Authority supplies the infrastructure to deliver live, digital broadcast TV to mobile video-enabled devices.

Last month, the OMVC introduced a new predictive model for reception of UHF-based mobile DTV signals, boosting coverage in automobiles and for personal viewing. The association is also issuing a library of recorded mobile DTV signals to help broadcasters and product developers improve their services and devices. The OMVC adds its Mobile DTV Forum is nearing completion of Consumer Electronics Device Profiles giving CE manufacturers insight into how broadcasters will implement new services and the inputs needed to build mobile DTV-enabled consumer electronics products.

The Open Mobile Video Coalition represents over 900 TV stations across the U.S.--its 36 broadcaster members own and operate over 500 commercial television stations, as well as Association of Public Television Stations, Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Public Broadcasting Service outlets. In May 2010, the OMVC launched a Washington D.C.-area trial transmitting 23 TV channels of local content to about 400 participants accessing the service via phones and portable DVD players equipped with mobile DTV chips.

For more:
- read this release

Related articles:
Open Mobile Video Coalition creates Mobile DTV Forum
Local news viewership dominates mobile DTV trial
Broadcasters forge Mobile500 Alliance to boost mobile DTV
NBC, Fox execs tapped to helm mobile DTV joint venture