CEA Advances Mobile DTV Through Plugfest

ARLINGTON, Virginia — The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)® today completed hosting the first ever ATSC Mobile DTV Plugfest. A Plugfest is a technical event designed to provide participating companies with an opportunity to test interoperability of their devices with those of other participating companies. This Plugfest focused on testing against the recently approved ATSC standard for mobile DTV and had over 15 participating companies. The four-day Plugfest was hosted at CEA headquarters with engineers from around the world participating. The Plugfest utilized four independently developed transmission systems, 12 receiver systems, and four software vendors.

CEA’s Vice President of Technology and Standards Brian Markwalter said, “CEA is taking a lead role in promoting rapid deployment of Mobile DTV services, and we are delighted to work with our broadcast partners to get this technology into consumers’ hands. Mobile DTV utilizes DTV channels and delivers live, on-the-go content to consumers when and where they want. CEA is excited to facilitate this critical interoperability checkpoint as companies extend the capability of broadcast television beyond the home to new platforms.”

Companies participating in the first ATSC Mobile DTV Plugfest included: Axcera; Dell; DTV Interactive Co., Ltd.; Elgato Systems; Expway; Grass Valley; Harris; JVC-Kenwood; LG Electronics; PIXTREE; Roundbox and Samsung.

Mobile DTV will be center stage at the 2010 International CES, January 7-10, 2010 in Las Vegas. The Open Mobile Video Coalition (OMVC), representing more than 800 TV stations across the country, will sponsor the CES Mobile DTV TechZone in the Central Hall of the LVCC. Leading manufacturers will demonstrate new devices and transmission equipment bringing the excitement of mobile DTV to American consumers in 2010.

The ATSC Mobile DTV standard was approved on October 15, 2009. Consumer electronics manufacturers are working through a CEA Mobile DTV special interest group to move the technology from concept to standard and bring products to market for consumers to enjoy in 2010. For consumers, this standard will allow the ability to watch live, local TV broadcasts on a variety of mobile and video devices.