A survey by Harris Corp. finds local broadcasters aspiring to provide improved services for viewers—ranging from more local HD news and programming to advances in Internet and mobile TV content. In addition to meeting the deadline to convert over-the-air transmissions from analog to digital, the recent survey from the Melbourne, Fla.-based company reveals:
66 percent of broadcasters plan to provide consumers with more programming in HD
55 percent said they will multicast additional DTV channels
50 percent expect to broadcast live programming over the Internet and derive additional revenue from their station’s Web site
28 percent expect to provide programming over mobile handheld devices including cellular phones, PDAs and laptops.
“The survey shows that U.S. broadcasters are fully embracing the conversion to digital and high-definition TV and the additional revenue opportunities it will provide,” said Tim Thorsteinson, president of Harris Broadcast Communications. “The transition to digital equipment and supporting software systems is not only allowing broadcasters to offer expanded services, but also to create a seamless workflow and reduce costs.”
