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Tag: analog-tv

  • Mobile TV Viewers to Rise to 500 Million In 2013


    The switchover to all-digital television broadcasting in the US and other major countries will create an unprecedented opportunity for the mobile TV market.

    A study from ABI Research forecasts that traditional and mobile TV broadcasters and cellular operators in many regions will launch mobile TV services that will attract over 500 million viewers by 2013.

    Its says that mobile TV will be seen as an extension of traditional broadcast TV services.

    The researchers stress the important distinction between content streamed to mobile handsets over cellular networks, and free-to-air broadcasting to mobile devices equipped with mobile TV tuners.

    Jeff Orr, senior ABI analyst, said that mobile TV users have yet to value the medium properly because it has not been validated as an independent product and service.

    "It has been primarily offered at the end of a long list of more preferred cellular services," he said.

    "However, Mobile TV will soon be positioned in a more proper role as an extension of traditional broadcast TV services."

    Orr said mobile TV viewing will not be done solely on cellular handsets.

    He said devices such as MIDs and automotive infotainment systems will also play a part.

    "I believe that once the content is available and the services launched, mobile TV will enable more classes of mobile devices that are "natural fits" for mobile entertainment."

    The report says that those most likely to benefit from the rise of mobile TV are:

    • Content developers and providers
    • Device vendors, especially MID and cellular handset OEMs
    • Service providers
    • Multimedia and security software
    • Semiconductor and network infrastructure vendors

    Once mobile TV users adopt the service at high growth levels, advertisers will also climb on board to target the significant number of new "mobile eyeballs".

    ABI Research also believes the timing of the mobile TV market’s emergence is good.

    It said that as 2009 progresses, signs of economic optimism may emerge, and allow the fledgling industry to establish a foothold before the holiday shopping season.

  • France's Digital Switchover Begins


    The city of Coulommiers near Paris is the first in France to make the switchover to digital TV as part of a pilot project ahead of the full national transition.

    France Télé Numérique said 94 per cent of households in the city of 14,700 were equipped with at least one digital TV set 20 days before the switchover.

    As the figure suggests – US authorities take note – a scheme to help people update their TV equipment from old analog televisions has proved very succesful.

    The signal was cut by French minister of Culture, Christine Albanel, newly named Secretary of State for Prospective and digital economy development, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet and CSA president Michel Boyon.

    The digital switchover will continue in the other pilot cities of Kaysersberg (Alsace) and Cherbourg (Cotentin), where 200,000 people will be affected.

    The process will then roll-out through 2010 with a completion date set for 30 November,2011.

    Launched in 2005, DTT currently covers 87 per cent of the population but analog television is still a reality for 29 per cent of French households.

  • Bid To Delay US Switch To Digital TV Fails


    A bill intended to delay the US’s transition to digital TV has been defeated in the House of Representatives.

    An estimated 6.5 million Americans are not yet prepared for the switch, which now reverts back to the original date of 17 February.

    The action comes less than two days after the US Senate unanimously voted to move the switch date to 12 June.

    The House blocked the bill, saying postponing the action would only cause confusion for consumers and increase costs for broadcasters.

    It needed two-thirds of the votes of the House under "special rules adopted for the vote," but the result was just 258 to 168 in favor of changing the date.

    From 17 February, all television broadcasters are legally required to shut off analog signals and air only digital programming.

    Viewers using analog TV sets and antennas to receive broadcasts will need to upgrade to a digital TV set or install a converter box to get signals.

    Funds totalling USD $1.34 billion for government-issued vouchers to help consumers pay for digital TV converter boxes has been used up.

    The converter boxes cost between USD $50 and USD $80.