First, there was black & white TV. Then we had color. Today it's HDTV. But tomorrow is already here with the advent of "Mobile TV" where you can watch TV wherever you go. The sky is the limit, literally. It's the natural next step for a generation who has grown up on instantly connecting to the world at any time.
One of the hot topics this year at the National Association of Broadcasters Convention (NAB) in Las Vegas was how to get the ball rolling on Mobile TV on a massive scale. Broadcasting companies like WKYC's parent company, Gannett, are already planning strategies for the inevitable. If broadcasters can agree on a distribution standard, the content is ready.
Mobile TV is more than just TV you will watch in our car...it's watching real time newscasts and entertainment programming on your cell phones, ipods, and other gadgets currently in the development & production stages.
Part of the plan being discussed is to use some of the TV spectrum being abandoned by broadcasters in 2009 as part of the transition to digital television. Telecommunication companies like Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile & AT&T are already forming partnerships with broadcasters to offer local content.
Most broadcasters want protection though - and for good reason. They want to be able to keep their local content for their local audiences. For example, WKYC - an NBC affiliate would not want someone in the Cleveland area receiving an NBC affiliates programming in Erie, PA. WKYC would want to be able to sell advertising to its own protected coverage area or DMA.
One idea being proposed is to have a device be configured to receive 2 or 3 local radio signals that will "unlock" it to receive only that area's local station's programming on mobile devices. Once you leave the area, your mobile device would the lock onto a new service area. The down side to this thinking would be in you went to Phoenix, you could no longer get Cleveland programming. So this is an area that broadcasters are still working out.
It's very likely that stations, like WKYC, will begin offering plenty of programming for your mobile devices within the next year or two...this could well include an outlet that allows you to receive our news broadcasts 24/7 on your mobile device.
It's a whole new day for local broadcasters with digital broadcasting. As we have said before, the days of the television "station" is over. Every local broadcaster will be offering content on multiple platforms that is out to attract your eyes.
I welcome your feedback on my article. Please email me at: fmacek@wkyc.com
