Harris Corporation in the US says that it has sold transmitters using its ATSC MPH (Mobile Pedestrian Handheld) to Media General, a broadcaster with 18 affiliate stations, starting initial broadcasts in both Columbus Ohio and Tampa, Florida and will go on to implement mobile TV using these same ATSC M/H protocols, throughout its broadcasting footprint in the South East US.
Media General is already broadcasting two ATSC Mobile digital TV channels for each of its stations, featuring the main and supplementary terrestrial channels viewed locally over the air. The Harris MPH system includes the Harris NetVX video networking system, Synchrony mobile networking adapter and Apex M2X exciter, as well as the Roundbox Server for Mobile DTV from Roundbox, which generates service signaling and transmits an Electronic Service Guide (ESG).
Media General picked Columbus and Tampa so that it could compare VHF and UHF systems for ATSC Mobile DTV, across different terrains, explained W. Ardell Hill president of broadcast services for Media General.
Hill said that Media General wishes to provide additional delivery choices for their viewers locally, with the intention of expanding to additional markets in 2011.
‘Mobile DTV allows us to take our content to the consumer where they want to receive it,’ said Hill. ‘The reality is that the consumer has become very mobile, and it’s critical that we continue to deliver news, information, public safety bulletins and local programming to our audience. As broadcasters, we are the trusted provider and the credible source of information, and we have a responsibility to gather and deliver that information to consumers on the move.’