OMVC to trial mobile DTV in Washington, D.C.

U.S. broadcasting industry association, the Open Mobile Video Coalition, announced it will showcase mobile DTV technology and products in the Washington, D.C. area, additionally naming four TV stations in the Atlanta and Seattle markets as model stations for technical research and development of device interoperability. The D.C. consumer trial will go live in late summer, enabling broadcasters to showcase and test mobile DTV programming, services and features in advance of full commercial deployment later this year. Fox Television Stations' WDCA-DT, Gannett Broadcasting's WUSA-DT, ION Media Networks' WPXW-DT, NBC Universal's WRC-DT, PBS's WHUT-DT and Sinclair Broadcast Group's operated WNUV-DT and National Datacast are initial participants, although the OMVC anticipates adding more stations to the trial in the near term.

According to the OMVC, WPXA-DT--an ION Media-owned station serving Atlanta--signed on with mobile services April 1. Rival WATL-DT, a Gannett-owned MyNetworkTV affiliate, as well as Seattle's KONG-DT, a Belo-owned independent station, and KOMO-DT, a Fisher-owned ABC affiliate, are slated to begin full time mobile DTV broadcasting this spring. The four model stations will enable manufacturers to develop and test products that meet broadcaster, electronics manufacturer and consumer requirements for projected Mobile DTV launches and future services, with Harris Corporation, Rohde & Schwarz, Roundbox and Triveni Digital supplying transmission equipment and technical expertise. The OMVC reports that 70 U.S. stations have now signed on to deliver live mobile broadcasts in 28 markets by the end of 2009.

For more on the Mobile DTV trials:
- read this release

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