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Mobile television istelevision watched on a smallhandheld or mobile device, typically developed for that purpose. It includes service delivered viamobile phone networks, receivedfree-to-air viaterrestrial television stations, or via satellite broadcast. Regular broadcast standards or special mobile TV transmission formats can be used. Additional features includedownloadingTV programs andpodcasts from the Internet and storing programming for later viewing.
According to theHarvard Business Review, the growing adoption ofsmartphones allowed users to watch as much mobile video in three days of the2010 Winter Olympics as they watched throughout the entire2008 Summer Olympics, a five-fold increase.[1] However, except in South Korea, consumer acceptance of broadcast mobile TV has been limited due to lack of compatible devices.[2]
Early mobile TV receivers were based on oldanalog television systems. They were the earliest televisions that could be placed in a coat pocket. The first was the Panasonic IC TV MODEL TR-001, introduced in 1970. The second was sold to the public byClive Sinclair in January 1977. It was called the Microvision or theMTV-1. It had a two-inch (50 mm)CRT screen and was also the first television that could pick up signals in multiple countries. It measured 4.0 inches (100 mm) x 6.25 inches (159 mm) × 1.6 inches (41 mm) and was sold for less than£100 in theUK and for around$400 in theUnited States. The project took over ten years to develop and was funded by around £1.6 million in British government grants.[3][4]
In 2002, South Korea was the first country to introduce commercial mobile TV via2GCDMAIS95-C, and3G (CDMA2000 1XEVDO) networks.[5] In 2005, South Korea became the first country to broadcast satellite mobile TV via DMB (S-DMB) on May 1, and terrestrial DMB (T-DMB) on December 1. South Korea and Japan are developing the sector.[6] Mobile TV services were launched in Hong Kong during March 2006 by the operator CSL on the 3G network.[7]BT launched mobile TV in the United Kingdom in September 2006, although the service was abandoned less than a year later.[8] Germany had a failed endeavor with MFD Mobiles Fernsehen Deutschland, who launched theirDMB-based service June 2006 in Germany, but ended it in April 2008.[9] Also in June 2006, mobile operator 3 in Italy (part ofHutchison Whampoa) launched their mobile TV service, but in contrast to Germany's MFD it was based on the EuropeanDVB-H standard.[10] In the USVerizon Wireless andAT&T offeredMediaFLO, a subscription service from March 2007 until March 2011.
In the 2010s, specialized mobile TV platforms and protocols were discontinued due to the rapid deployment ofLTEcellular networks and the growing popularity ofstreaming television over the internet on modernsmartphones.[11][12][13][14]
As of January 2012[update], there were 120 stations in the United States broadcasting using theATSC-M/H "Mobile DTV" standard – a mobile and handheld enhancement to the HDTV standard that improves handling ofmultipath interference while mobile.[15]
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While MediaFLO used the TV spectrum andMobiTV usedcell phone networks,[16] "mobile DTV" (ATSC-M/H) used thedigital TV spectrum.
ION Media Networks started a test station on channel 38, which was to be used for digitalLPTV, which used asingle-frequency network (SFN). In some areas, more than oneTV transmitter would be needed to cover all areas. Mobile DTV could have been used at that time because it would not affectHDTV reception. A single standard, however, had to be developed.[17]
Gannett Broadcasting president David Lougee pointed out that many of those attending theinauguration of Barack Obama would likely hear him but not see him; had the new technology been in place, this would not have been a problem.[18]
In April 2009, theOpen Mobile Video Coalition, made up of over 800 broadcast stations, selected four test stations: Gannett'sWATL, ION'sWPXA-TV inAtlanta,Fisher Communications'KOMO-TV, andBelo Corporation'sKONG-TV inSeattle. WPXA began mobile DTV broadcasting on April 1. The others would begin in May.[19]
ION chairman and CEO Brandon Burgess said mobile DTV lets stations "think beyond the living room and bring live television and real-time information to consumers wherever they may be."[20]The Advanced Television Systems Committee started work on mobile DTV standards in May 2007, and manufacturers and sellers worked quickly to make the new technology a reality.
The technology was expected to be used forOpinion polls and even voting.[21][22] By the end of the year, the ATSC and theConsumer Electronics Association began identifying products meeting the standard with "MDTV".[23]
Paul Karpowicz, NAB Television Board chairman and president of Meredith Broadcast Group, said
"This milestone ushers in the new era of digital television broadcasting, giving local TV stations and networks new opportunities to reach viewers on the go. This will introduce the power of local broadcasting to a new generation of viewers and provide all-important emergency alert, local news, and other programming to consumers across the nation."[22]
ION technology vice president Brett Jenkins said, "We're really at a stage like the initial launch of DTV back in 1998. There are almost going to be more transmitters transmitting mobile than receive devices on the market, and that's probably what you'll see for the next six to nine months."[24]
Devices would eventually includeUSB dongles,netbooks,portable DVD players and in-car displays.[24]
White House officials and members ofCongress saw the triple-play concept in an ION demonstration on July 28, 2009, in conjunction with the OMVC.[25][26] Another demonstration took place October 16, 2009 with journalists, industry executives and broadcasters riding around Washington, D.C., in a bus with prototype devices. Included were those who would be testing the devices in the Washington and Baltimore markets in January 2010.[27]
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On August 7, 2009,BlackBerry service began on six TV stations. Eventually, 27 other stations are expected to offer the service. By October, 30 stations were airing mobile DTV signals, and that number is expected to grow to 50. Also in the same month, FCC chair Julius Genachowski announced an effort to increase the spectrum available to wireless services.[22] Also in August,WTVE andAxcera began testing asingle-frequency network (SFN) with multiple transmitters using the new mobile standard. TheRNN affiliate inReading, Pennsylvania had used this concept since 2007.[28]
An amplified antenna or higher power for the transmitting station would likely be needed, as well asrepeater stations where terrain is a problem.[29] Lougee, whose company planned testing in its 19 markets in 2010, said thechip designs with the new devices madetargeted advertising possible.[27]
In December 2009, Concept Enterprises introduced the first mobile DTV tuner for automobiles. Unlike earlier units, this one provides a clear picture without pixelation in a fast-moving vehicle, using an LG M/H chip and a one-inch roof-mounted antenna. No subscription is required.[30] Also in December, theConsumer Electronics Association hosted a "plugfest" in Washington, D.C. to allow manufacturers to test various devices. More than 15 companies, and engineers from different countries, tested four transmission systems, 12 receiver systems, and four software types.[23][31]On December 1,News Corp. chairmanRupert Murdoch said mobile DTV would be important to the future of all journalism, and he planned to offer TV and possiblynewspaper content in this way.[32]
Wireless broadband, which some wanted to replace broadcasting, would not be able to handle the demand for video services.[33] ION's Burgess showed off one of the firstiPhones capable of receiving mobile DTV, while ION's Jenkins showed an LG Maze, aValups, and aTivit; the latter sends signals to theiPod Touch and is expected to soon work with theGoogleNexus.[34]Sinclair Broadcast Group director of advanced technology Mark Aitken said the mobile DTV concept of multiple transmitters would help free up spectrum for wireless broadband in rural areas but not large cities. He also explained to the FCC that mobile DTV was the best method for sending out live video to those using cell phones and similar devices.[35]
TheOMVC's Mobile DTV Consumer Showcase began May 3, 2010, and lasted all summer. Nine stations planned to distribute 20 programs, including local and network shows as well as cable programs, toSamsung Moment phones.Dell Netbooks and Valups Tivits also received programming.[36]
On September 23, 2010, Media General began its first MDTV service atWCMH-TV inColumbus, Ohio and had plans to do the same a month later atWFLA-TV in theTampa Bay, Florida area and five to seven more stations in its portfolio.[37]
On November 19, 2010, a joint venture of 12 major broadcasters known as theMobile Content Venture (MCV) announced plans to upgrade TV stations in 20 markets representing 40 percent of the United States population to deliver live video to portable devices by the end of 2011.[38]
Brian Lawlor, aScripps TV senior vice president said that in September 2011, Scripps stations would offer amobile app allowing people with aniPhone oriPad to see emergency information (e.g. weather bulletins) in the event of a power outage.[39] In 2012, a number of stations plan to conduct tests of the Mobile Emergency Alert System (M-EAS), a system to deliver emergency information via mobile DTV.[40]
In January 2012, the MCV announced thatMetroPCS would offer MCV's Dyle mobile DTV service.Samsung planned anAndroid phone capable of receiving this service late in 2012.[41] At the end of 2012, Dyle was in 35 markets and capable of reaching 55 percent of viewers.[42] According to the home page on its website, "As of May 22, 2015, Dyle mobile TV is no longer in service, and Dyle-enabled devices and their apps will no longer be supported."[43]
At the NAB show in April 2012, MCV announced that 17 additional television stations would launch mobile DTV, bringing the total to 92, covering more than 55% of US homes. Included are stations in three new markets:Austin, Texas,Boston, Massachusetts, andDayton, Ohio.[44]
In September 2012,WRAL-TV announced rollout of aMobile Emergency Alert System based around mobile digital television technology.[45]
By early 2013, 130 stations were providing content, but the adoption of devices such asdongles was not widespread.[46]
According to NPD's "Free Streaming TV" report, released in February 2013, 12 percent of United States TV watchers reported streaming TV shows for free during the prior three months, compared to 14 percent who watched a TV show via SVOD.
As of 2023, WNUV CW 54, a Nextgen TV station in Baltimore, is broadcasting in a format called MobileW at 480p resolution for cell phone reception. WNUV owner Sinclair also operates an experimental TV station on Baltimore on RF 24 to test the One Media ATSC 3.0 chip-enabled Nextgen TV cell phone, The Mark One.[47]
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