Mobile Digital TV is Coming... Are You Ready to GO?
First there was Digital TV...now there is Mobile Digital TV
Do you want to watch your TV shows or get your local news and weather while you are in the car, bus or even a train?
Now you can with FREE over-the-air Mobile Digital Television!
Mobile Digital TV (Mobile DTV or MDTV) is the
new U.S. broadcast standard
for delivering free over-the-air Mobile Digital TV signals. Because most people in the United States get their television from cable or satellite, many people don’t realize that TV is still being transmitted over-the-air and it’s free!
There may be some confusion between the new Mobile DTV standard and the current DTV standard (Analog to Digital Transition) that went into effect June 12, 2009. We will try to make it EZ to understand!
Current Standard: Digital TV (DTV)
The
Analog to Digital Transition
changed the TV broadcast signals from Analog to Digital signals. It is the free over-the-air TV signals received by an antenna or rabbit ears, not cable. You need a
digital TV
set or a
converter box
with an analog TV set to receive digital signals.
These signals were made for stationary TV sets with fixed antennas. Yes, they can be
"portable" digital TV sets,
but they have to be in one place with the
antenna
carefully positioned to receive a good signal and picture.
You will lose signal in a car or with very little movement.
New Standard: Mobile DTV (MDTV)
The new
Mobile DTV standard,
also known as MDTV, A/153 ATSC, ATSC-M/H, and Mobile DTV, allows reception of Digital TV on the go.
With Mobile DTV, you can pick up free over-the-air TV signals while you are moving.
Here’s what you need: You must have Mobile DTV channels broadcasting over-the-air in your area and you will need a
Mobile DTV receiving device
to access the digital signals. The devices must be within about 60 miles of a broadcast tower for a clear picture.
The first receiving devices are being sold now. Many more devices will be for sale in the near future. We will have more retailer information here when it becomes available.
Click on the map below to see the first projected service areas:
The OMVC has launced the
Mobile Digital TV Consumer Showcase
which began on May 3, 2010 in Washington, D.C. The Showcase will test the Mobile DTV system live and evaluate consumer response.
How is this different from watching TV on my cell phone right now?
Instead of paying monthly fees of $7 to $15 to subscribe to current mobile TV services such as Flo TV or MobiTV, Mobile DTV will be transmitted live and FREE over-the-air by local broadcasters. You will need to buy one of the new
Mobile DTV Receiving Devices
to receive the new signals.
Benefits of MDTV:
Mobile DTV makes local, free over-the-air digital broadcast TV truly portable. It will give local TV stations and networks new opportunities to reach viewers on the go.
With Mobile DTV, consumers can tune into live, local news, traffic information, weather, sports or entertainment programs from the convenience of their car, bus, train using
special receiving devices
MDTV will provide important information alerts and local news that everyone should have access to in an emergency or disaster.
Mobile TV devices with GPS function will also feed location-specific ads so that, for example, an ad for a restaurant would appear only to someone nearby.
What could be better than combining TV and Cell Phones? It’s perfect for people who want it all and all in one device!
