CEA Completes Third Successful 'PlugFest' for Advance Mobile DTV

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)® today announced successful completion of the third “ATSC Mobile DTV PlugFest.” CEA PlugFest is a technical event that allows participating companies to test their devices with transmitter equipment that will be used to broadcast Mobile DTV signals. PlugFest3 focused on promoting interoperability for Mobile DTV technology, as ATSC Mobile DTV makes local, digital broadcast TV portable and mobile for consumers to watch on the go.

CEA’s Vice President of Technology and Standards Brian Markwalter said, “CEA continues to take a leading role in promoting mobile DTV through outreach and education. We are excited to see companies utilize this interoperability checkpoint as an increasing number of products are poised for launch and we enter a period when content availability will be the key to success.”

This event is built on the success of the two previous ATSC Mobile DTV PlugFests, also sponsored by CEA, held in March 2010 and December 2009. It included the first closed caption testing for the ATSC A/153 Mobile DTV standard as well as expanded lip sync testing.

The participating companies in PlugFest3 are major stakeholders in the Mobile DTV space from around the world, including: Digital Stream Technology Inc; DTVinteractive Co., Ltd.; Eiden Co., Ltd.; Kenwood USA; LARCAN; LG Electronics; Roundbox Inc.; Samjin LND; Samsung; Screen Service Broadcast Technologies; and Thomson Grass Valley.

“This was a great opportunity for some seasoned teams and some new teams to get together,” said Mike Bergman, VP of New Digital Technologies at Kenwood USA and chair of the PlugFest. “These events have really helped mature the implementations, and we’re seeing fewer issues and better performance.”

Following the approval of the ATSC Mobile DTV standard on October 15, 2009, the Open Mobile Video Coalition and consumer electronics manufacturers have worked through a CEA special interest group to move the technology from concept to standard to working products. To participate in future PlugFests contact Jack Cutts at jcutts@CE.org.