New devices allowing local broadcasters to deliver TV on the go will be on display at CES this year, but the availability of such a service to the average consumer seems to still be encountering interference.
The Open Mobile Video Coalition (OMVC) will be hosting an event on Wednesday in Las Vegas to show off a pretty impressive display of devices, including a prototype phone, a portable Mobile DTV receiver with DVD playback, netbook computers, a mobile Wi-Fi access point, which allows existing devices to watch TV when equipped with Wi‐Fi, and USB receivers for laptops. But it’s unclear when networks will be ready on a large scale. Previously, the OMVC has said that 70 stations were committed to launching mobile DTV services, but so far only about 30 are live.
A slower network roll-out will likely work out well since many of the consumer devices won’t be ready until later this year. But delays will give Qualcomm’s FLO TV service a chance get ahead. Today, Qualcomm (NSDQ: QCOM) resells its broadcast TV services through Verizon Wireless and AT&T (NYSE: T). It also just started selling its first direct to consumer product this holiday. The major differences between the two will be cost and content. Qualcomm charges a monthly fee and has major national feeds, like ESPN (NYSE: DIS) and others. Mobile DTV will likely be free, and the content will include local feeds that vary from market-by-market. The broadcasters will also have to contend with federal regulators who have started to consider repositioning some spectrum used today for TV for wireless services as the demand for additional bandwidth continues to soar.
Brandon Burgess, chairman of the broadcasters’ coalition, told the WSJ that FLO TV is too expensive, and “Having premium content like ESPN available on a mobile device is great, but it’s not our starting point. We’ll start with local broadcasts to try to educate consumers.”
One device on display is the Tivit, an accessory made by Valups Corp. that receives Mobile DTV signals and transfers them to devices that have Wi-Fi connections, like mobile phones. The device is expected to cost from $90 to $120. Contrast that to Qualcomm’s FLO TV Personal Television, which has a 3.5 inch, and costs $250, including six months of free service. After that, you will be charged $14.99 a month. LG (SEO: 066570) also is working on a DVD player that has a Mobile DTV receiver. That will cost about $249, and will be available later this year. At least one cellphone that can receive Mobile DTV will be at the show, although it is being called a prototype.
The coalition says to date, 30 U.S. stations have started offering Mobile DTV, including a station in Raleigh, which has partnered with the city to broadcast channels in 18 city buses. There’s also test markets in Seattle and Atlanta with one coming to the D.C. area soon.
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