LG and Samsung to jointly develop mobile digital TV standard

Seoul: Korean global electronics firms LG Electronics (LG) and Samsung Electronics (Samsung), have signed an agreement to to jointly develop and promote technology for the North American  mobile / handheld digital television (M/H DTV) standardisation.

The jointly promoted M/H DTV solution uses the existing terrestrial digital television broadcast bandwidth, with no impact on existing digital TV and with minimum broadcasting equipment investment.

At a ceremony held at Seoul Plaza Hotel in Seoul, Korea, on 14 May 2008,  the two companies agreed to cooperate in order to assure rapid adoption by the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) of a single common in-band mobile DTV standard.

Technology for the jointly proposed system will reflect the findings of the IDOV (Independent Demonstration of Viability) conducted by the Association of Maximum Service Television (MSTV) on behalf of the Open Mobile Video Coalition (OMVC). A report on IDOV will be submitted by the OMVC to the ATSC.

ATSC is expected to introduce the mobile/hand held  digital television TV standard for the North American market in early 2009 following trials of the technology by the Open Mobile Video Coalition (OMVC), a group of leading US broadcasters who are vigorously promoting the development and early deployment of M/H DTV.