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Ion Media Networks Launches Digital Broadcast in New York City and Washington, D.C.
Jul 03, 2009 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) --
Ion Media Networks announced the launch of its Digital Broadcast "Triple Play" in New York City and Washington, D.C.
The DTV "Triple Play" includes the broadcast of the company's flagship network, Ion Television, in HD, two additional digital networks, plus Mobile DTV. The digital TV transition has enabled new transmission capabilities, including Mobile Digital Television (Mobile DTV), a digital format allowing broadcasters to use subchannels to transmit TV content to mobile devices.
Ion said its focus on Washington, D.C. is part of a broader initiative in support of the Open Mobile Video Coalition (OMVC), a trade group of over 800 commercial and public television stations, working to create a showcase for Mobile DTV in the nation's capital to highlight the potential for expanding broadcast television.
"Digital technology lets us reach more homes, enables HD quality and new digital networks, as well as mobile reception," said Brandon Burgess, Chairman and CEO of Ion Media Networks. "Among all these benefits, Mobile DTV may prove to be the most significant in the long run, allowing broadcasters to think beyond the living room and bring live television and real time information to consumers wherever they may be."
"The launch of Ion's Mobile DTV signals in NYC and D.C. is a pay off from the industry's efforts to create a unifying technology standard," said Brett Jenkins, Ion's VP of Technology. "The Mobile DTV eco system has now developed to the point that broadcasters are able to launch beta services, and we're beginning to think through consumer and business implementations. The work of the Open Mobile Video Coalition and its broadcast members have made this implementation possible, and we look forward to working with the industry to capitalize on its potential."
Ion reported it is using technology known as ATSC-M/H, which was developed by the Advanced Television Systems Committee specifically to enable delivery of television to mobile and handheld devices. In New York, where the signal is transmitted from Ion's owned and operated station, WPXN, the mobile stream is broadcast alongside WPXN's HD signal and Ion's two multicast channels.
((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))
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