Open Mobile Video Coalition doubles membership

The OMVC adds a number of new members: Cox Television, The Dispatch Broadcast Group, Freedom Broadcasting, LIN TV Group, Meredith Corp., Media General, Post-Newsweek Stations, Raycom Media, Schurz Communications, and the Association of Public Television Stations.

Hilarity ensues.

From the OMVC mission:

"To accelerate the development of mobile digital broadcast television, and capture the full potential of the digital television spectrum in the United States. The coalition will help identify and encourage broad adoption of technologies that enable mobile reception of digital broadcast television signals, so that consumers can watch television wherever and whenever they want, not just in the home.

From MocoNews:

"The additional 10 new members bring OMVC’s membership to 19 and increase the number of TV stations represented in the group from 281 to 422. Lots of verbiage about what they’re proposing and their naive hopes."

From the press release:

"The group has established a timeline that calls for parallel development of standards, devices and business models with the goal of a 2009 launch. With that goal in mind, the group has also launched two test markets in Tampa, Fla., and Washington, D.C. The Coalition has received significant interest from hardware and transmission manufacturing communities and continues to plan active dialogues regarding opportunities in the second half of 2007.

Estimates for 2007 U.S. sales of portable and mobile devices capable of video playback run as high as 100 million units. These include sales of video-capable mobile phones, personal media players, portable game players, imaging devices, notebook PCs, and in-car entertainment devices. With the addition of a low-cost receiver module, each of these devices could be built to receive DTV broadcasts from any of the 1,600 digital television stations in the U.S. that choose to transmit mobile capable signals. DTV spectrum is ideally suited for mobile video. It supports good picture quality, reliable reception inside buildings and on fast-moving vehicles, all using antennas small enough to fit in almost any portable device.

The Coalition's work will include promoting development of technical standards; defining technical objectives and requirements of broadcasters; accelerating the development of new technology, solutions and content; driving regulatory support and promoting consumer adoption of mobile digital broadcast television. Membership in the coalition is open to all U.S.-based television broadcast stations."