MPH developers big up in-band mobile DTV
November 7, 2007
The developers of MPH in-band mobile digital television (DTV) have told members of the Community Broadcasters Association that their innovative technology, which is designed to reach viewers on the move, has the potential to generate new revenue streams for DTV broadcasters in general and the nation’s community broadcasters in particular.
“Delivering robust DTV signals to a new generation of mobile-portable-handheld devices is what MPH is all about,” said Wayne Luplow, vice president – HDTV standards and promotion, at Zenith. “Our highly flexible system maximises broadcasters’ use of their DTV spectrum. LPTV stations will be able to offer between four and six mobile, locally oriented channels, which seems likely to give them a substantial competitive edge.”
“Local news, weather and traffic updates, sports and other local programming may turn out to be mobile DTV’s ‘killer app,'” said Jay Adrick, vice president, broadcast technology, at Harris Broadcast Communications. “MPH in-band mobile DTV enjoys some distinct advantages over other delivery media, not the least of which is that it can be advertising- rather than subscription-based.”
The overarching goal of the companies was to devise a robust, ATSC-compatible mobile solution for local broadcasters to maximise the use of their digital pathway in providing a wide range of profitable consumer services.