  |
TV To Go
Capitol to Demonstrate Technology That Will Enable Viewers to Tune in on Mobile Devices
|
Capitol Broadcasting and CBC’s New Media Group this week are demonstrating a new technology that enables live TV viewing on mobile devices.
And viewers can watch at freeway speeds.
The demonstrations are among the first in the U.S. for an emerging standard for mobile TV capture based on MPH, or mobile pedestrian handheld.
Just as in the emergence of VHS and beta, Blu-Ray and HD DVD, two technologies were developed to enable mobile TV. However, before warfare could break out with dual deployments, the companies behind each (Samsung and LG Electronics, which is partnered with Harris Corporation) settled on MPH. An industry standard group known as Open Mobile Video Coalition is backing the new technology.
The move of TV stations to digital broadcasting from analog is enabling much more than high-definition. Stations can parse their bandwidth to support multiple channels rather than just one over-the-air signal. And those that choose to go mobile can designate a portion of that to MPH delivery.
Interestingly, MPH will also enable two-way communication, so consumers might be able to shop or participate in quiz shows or play games.
Part of the “secret sauce” behind MPH is its capability to broadcast data in four streams. The tuner chips in the mobile devices will include error correction of the TV station’s signal, thus enabling mobile access.
Before MPH, TV signals, while strong enough to penetrate walls, could not be captured and corrected in a mobile environment.
CBC could very well be the first firm to officially launch MPH just as its WRAL TV was the first commercial TV station to embrace high definition back in 1996. News Over Wireless, a division of CBC’s New Media group, is already working with TV affiliates across the country to deliver news and information over cellular networks.
Next comes mobile.
