OMVC Pledges to Help ATSC With Mobile Testing

The Open Mobile Video Coalition said it is support of the Advanced Television Systems Committee’s mobile/handheld standard-setting process.

The 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, all of which could facilitate the standard-setting process.

OMVC promised “the funding, participation and manpower” of its members, but gave few details and declined to designate a specific amount of funding.

The OMVC participated in the collaborative Independent Demonstration of Viability (IDOV) this spring that provided data to ATSC on the competing mobile technologies.

“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.”

In May, OMVC announced its support for the MPH (mobile/pedestrian/handheld) standard being developed by Harris Corp. and LG Electronics, combined with elements of a standard proposed by Samsung and Rohde & Schwarz.

OMVC includes 20 members, owning about 450 television stations, plus the Association of Public Television Stations, which represents about 350 more.

The ATSC has said it could have a candidate standard approved this fall and a final standard sometime in 2009.