Television may be a mature technology, but Mobile DTV is new and hot. The Open Mobile Video Coalition (OMVC) is touting demos of several new handheld and in-vehicle devices this week at the CES in Las Vegas.
OMVC, along with major consumer electronics manufacturers, will unveil the culmination of more than 12 months of work today during a CES press conference and within multiple show-floor exhibits. The OMVC is an alliance of more than 800 broadcasters whose mission is to accelerate the development of mobile digital television (DTV) in the United States.
With a Mobile DTV standard now in place broadcasters and manufacturers are moving fast to introduce the new technology to US consumers. Mobile DTV will extend broadcast-quality simulcast TV to next-generation mobile and portable devices, not to mention the limitless interactivity and application opportunities.
Mobile DTV is being demoed on the exhibit floor at CES by Hyundai, Kenwood, LG, NBC Universal, Samsung and Visteon. Some other companies have demos by invitation only in their hotel suites.
RBR/TVBR observation: Despite the tough advertising environment for television, station owners know that Mobile DTV is going to be a future growth driver. 2009 is the beginning of a new era for the television business.
