WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Open Mobile Video Coalition (OMVC) has expanded support of the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) for its mobile/handheld (M/H) standard-setting process. The ATSC M/H Standard will enable services to mobile and handheld devices by broadcast digital television (DTV) stations nationwide. Specifically, OMVC is committing funding, member station participation and manpower to the ATSC’s testing and evaluation of its candidate standard.
“Expanding our support for the ATSC’s important work is a reaffirmation of broadcasters’ deep and unwavering commitment to fielding outstanding mobile digital television services to consumers,” says Brandon Burgess, OMVC president. “We will work together swiftly and steadily to accelerate industry adoption of the ATSC M/H Standard and realize this untapped opportunity nationwide.”
The coalition’s proposed support includes corroborative testing of the M/H physical layer; independent verification of the candidate standard; complete system validation; and on-air facility and interoperability testing. The OMVC previously participated in the collaborative Independent Demonstration of Viability (IDOV).
“This is a natural follow-on to the successful IDOV work,” said Anne Schelle, OMVC executive director. “This moves beyond testing of the baseline physical layer to embrace end-to-end tests. Comprehensive test and evaluation is vital to maintaining our strong support from broadcasters and affiliated industry stakeholders.”
The Open Mobile Video Coalition is a voluntary association of television broadcasters whose mission is to accelerate the development of mobile digital video in the United States. The OMVC is composed of twenty members that own and operate over 450 commercial television stations, as well as the Association of Public Television Stations, which represents an additional 360 public television stations. Membership in the OMVC is open to all U.S.-based television broadcasters. Members are committed to fostering open competition in the development of products and services related to television.
BCAST Smartcard Profile trials
In related news Alcatel-Lucent also announced today its support for the world’s first commercial trial of the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA)’s new BCAST Smartcard Profile, an key emerging standard for Mobile TV content protection. The trial is being led by Alcatel-Lucent for MobileOne (M1), a mobile telecommunications service provider in Singapore, and MediaCorp.
The trial, which began in early August 2008, is based on Alcatel-Lucent’s Mobile Interactive TV solution, which will power the DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld) platform for the trial. The trial also includes mobile devices from Samsung and Smartcard Profile-compliant SIM cards from Gemalto.
Alcatel-Lucent’s DVB-H platform supports the Open Mobile Alliance BCast Smartcard Profile (OMA BCAST SCP) standard, which is being adopted globally. This is a SIM-based service protection system that enables Mobile TV providers to offer flexible subscription models incorporating services such as pay-per-view, pay-per-time, recorded content and more.
The Alcatel-Lucent Unlimited Mobile TV solution is a complete, turnkey solution that presents end-users with a truly diversified Mobile TV offer based on a mix of mainstream broadcast channels and an unlimited number of specialty unicast channels. Thanks to its multi-standard approach – spanning 3G, DVB-H and DVB-SH – the solution supports most of the DVB-H handsets on the market, including those supporting Digital Right Management Profile (DRMP) or Smartcard Profile (SCP).
"DVB-H delivers true mobile TV experience to users and will redefine the parameters of mobile phone use. We are excited to offer users a peek into this new generation of broadcast services over mobile, using Alcatel-Lucent’s mobile TV solution. The consumer trial involving Alcatel-Lucent and other technology partners will help point the way forward," said Lee Kok Chew, director of business development and strategic planning, M1.
"DVB-H is a new and exciting technology that can offer mobile TV broadcasts to our customers. The solution from Alcatel-Lucent and its partners will help us gauge customer’s receptiveness to the service and fine-tune our planning parameters," said Kang Aik Siang, SingTel’s director of consumer products (mobile).
Anil Nihalani, StarHub’s head of Mobile Services, said, "The DVB-H platform is designed to optimise the delivery of broadcast content over mobile devices. StarHub is keen to gauge the receptiveness of our customers to this new service, and is pleased to be working with Alcatel-Lucent, Samsung and Gemalto in the user trial."
"We are pleased to be able to partner with Singapore’s leading mobile communications industry players in bringing more advanced mobile TV options to Singaporeans," said Oliver Foo, managing director, Singapore and Brunei, Alcatel-Lucent.
"Asian subscribers are ready for a mobile TV offering that delivers a large variety of choices, a high level of personalization, maximum interactivity and great quality of service."
Samsung is providing its SGH-P960 DVB-H receiver for the consumer mobile DVB-H trials in Singapore which are being conducted by the three local telecommunications providers and MediaCorp.
