CEA Hosts Mobile DTV Plugfest

The Consumer Electronics Association recently hosted a plugfest for the new ATSC Mobile DTV standard, utilizing four transmission systems, 12 receiver systems, and four software vendors. The four-day event focused on testing against the ATSC standard for mobile DTV and had over 15 participating companies.

The ATSC Mobile DTV standard was approved Oct. 15, 2009. Consumer electronics manufacturers are working through a CEA Mobile DTV special interest group to move the technology from concept to standard and bring products to market.

Companies participating in the first ATSC Mobile DTV Plugfest included: Axcera; Dell; DTV Interactive Co., Ltd.; Elgato Systems; Expway; Grass Valley; Harris; JVC-Kenwood; LG Electronics; Pixtree; Roundbox and Samsung.

Mobile DTV will be center stage at the 2010 International CES, Jan. 7-10 in Las Vegas. The Open Mobile Video Coalition (OMVC), representing more than 800 TV stations across the country, will sponsor the CES Mobile DTV TechZone in the Central Hall of the LVCC. Leading manufacturers will demonstrate new devices and transmission equipment for an expected commercial launch of the service next year.

“Mobile DTV utilizes DTV channels and delivers live, on-the-go content to consumers when and where they want,” said CEA’s Vice President of Technology and Standard Brian Markwalter. “CEA is excited to facilitate this critical interoperability checkpoint as companies extend the capability of broadcast television beyond the home to new platforms.”