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Mobile Digital TV At CES 2010

Among the hundreds of new and inovative electronic devices that were presented at the 2010 Consumer Electronis show (CES) in Las Vegas this month a few were centered around the Mobile Digital market. Lets take a closer look at one of these unique devices, called the Tivit, that was demonstrated at the CES Mobile DTV TechZone sponsored by the Open Mobile Video Coalition (OMVC).

TIVIT – Winner in the MP3 and Portable video Players Category.

This device is designed to receive the ATSC standard signal and transmit that signal via Wi-Fi to your mobile phone. Produced by Valups,  a South Korean vendor of set-top receivers.  Adapted from a similar device used by

Tivit with iPhone

iPhone and iPod Touch  owners in both Japan and Korea. The Tivit will be part of a trial test this first quarter of 2010 in the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore areas. Eight local broadcast stations will participate, sending signals that will be received by several different types of mobile devices such as a PC, iPhone or some models of Blackberry. ( Software Apps are required to be downloaded inorder to use )

At 2 inches by 3.5 inches and 1/2 inch thick ( about the size of a deck of cards ) this unit will probably be available in the spring of 2010. Battery-powered, comes with a USB port and wall adapter for charging, and will probably last about three hours of viewing on a single charge. You could, however, leave it on charge for continued use within a 50 ft radius. Estimated price for the Tivit will be somewhere between $90 and $120 US dollars.

This is only one of many devices that will be showcased during the trial period. Sprint and Samsung will make available 300 Mobile DTV ready Samsung Moment cell phones for collaborative testing. The Dell Company will supply hundreds of Mobile DTV equiped Inspiron Mini 10 netbook computers and LG will provide battery-powered Mobile Digital Televisions. the Washington, D.C. Baltimore consumers involved in this showcase will provide usage information that  will be evaluated by the OMVC.

Open Mobile Video Coalition

A voluntary association of television broadcasters whose mission is to accelerate the development of mobile digital television in the United States. It’s composed of 29 current members that own over 450 commercial television stations, as well as Association of Public Television Stations, Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Public Broadcasting Service, which represent an additional 360 public television stations.

What will broadcast mobile DTV services of the future look like?

The consumer experience will be similar to having digital cable or satellite quality programming on a mobile phone using a DTV broadcasting standard over a separate air interface. Users will be able to watch a variety of live television programs, traffic reports, movie clips, music videos, listen to digital music or view a variety of entertainment and content options. Mobile DTV will offer high quality live broadcast TV (20-30 frames per second) paired with full audio for a mobile viewing experience unlike anything available today. In addition, other services will be available such as a menu/guide system and pay per view channels to enhance the viewing experience.

The current network of broadcast transmission towers that carry TV signals to your home will be retrofitted to also deliver a Mobile DTV signal. That signal has the ability to deliver local, full-motion digital broadcasts on multiple mobile devices, without the need for additional broadcast spectrum.

“Following a very smooth ATSC Mobile DTV standard setting process, broadcasters are on track to deliver local and national broadcast television to mobile audiences,” said Brandon Burgess, OMVC President and ION Media Networks Chairman and CEO. “The collaboration and dedication among TV broadcasters on this project has been gratifying, enabling us to meet our goal of making mobile broadcast DTV a reality in 2009.”

“Broadcasters should be recognized for seizing an opportunity to provide the entertainment and public service benefits of live, local television coverage to mobile consumers,” said David Rehr, President of the National Association of Broadcasters. “Consumers want to utilize mobile devices to follow news and sports, as well as local, regional and national emergency announcements and other content that they have come to expect from their local television stations. The roll-out of mobile DTV will give them the opportunity to experience all of those benefits.”

“Broadcasters are well positioned to dramatically improve the mobile video experience. Broadcaster-provided mobile DTV will give consumers local-station programming in a true digital format. It will also give broadcasters the opportunity to participate in this service using their own channels,” added David Lougee, President of Gannett Broadcasting.