Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) has broke out the news on October 16 that the US Mobile DTV standard is approved. Which means that the local television stations in the US can now broadcast programs directly to consumer mobile gadgets without any barrier from the cellphone operators, and from a consumer will have to subscribe to hefty deals from cellphone operators to watch TV on mobile.

The fast-track effort by broadcasters, transmission vendors and consumer electronics manufacturers has finally come to fruition after ATSC approved the Mobile DTV standard. The main proponents behind this standard are the Open Mobile Video Coalition (OMVC), the Association for Maximum Service Television (MSTV), the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and a group of 800 local TV stations who worked hand-in-hand to realize this standard. And, some 70 stations are going on air by the year end.

Mobile TV is not a new concept. People can watch video with YouTube and other video uploading sites. Some carriers also offer video clips on demand. But, all of these use the wireless data networks. The new standard will allow TV stations to broadcast the programs like conventional 6 MHz channels, and the mobile phone users with a TV tuner can watch the programs like normal TV.

The service has been demonstrated by the Open Mobile Video Coalition to a number of FCC officials on Friday while tehy were taken on a ride around Washington DC and 7 local TV stations broadcast Mobile DTV programs. [Bits]

Image Source: Bits