LG Showcases MPH Mobile DTV

By Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 1/7/2008

LAS VEGAS — LG Electronics used its CES press conference to unveil its Mobile Pedestrian Handheld (MPH) mobile DTV system, which will allow reception of digital television signals by mobile TVs moving at up to 140 miles per hour.

Woo Paik, LGE president and chief technology officer, said that since the development of the digital broadcast system began, broadcasters have sought a system with the capability of delivering programming to mobile viewers.

LG, which holds the patents to the 8-VSB modulation scheme used in the ATSC television broadcast system, developed MPH to provide broadcast quality video receivable by devices moving at speeds of up to 140 miles per hour. The system will also be capable of working with the current ATSC DTV broadcast standard, LG said.

Paik said LG has developed chips that will enable devices to receive MPH signals.

MPH will deliver one or more mobile TV channels using a small portion of the ATSC 19.4Mbps ATSC signal. Existing TV towers can transmit the mobile TV signal along with the existing HDTV channel with the MPH exciter at the head end.

Consumers will be able to receive the MPH signal from a variety of devices including mobile phones, portable media players, laptop PCs and portable navigation devices with MPH chips inside.

At CES, LG is giving a demonstration of the system at its booth, using a portion of a local live Sinclair Broadcasting signal.

LG said MPH has several advantages over competing mobile TV systems including DVBH, Paik said. MPH will allow local broadcasters to send signals to viewers offering “a compelling mix of local and national content,” using existing broadcast infrastructure without the need of using several towers or additional spectrum.

Paik said prototype MPH chips and prototype devices have been developed and broadcast services could be ready to begin in 2009. Trials will begin later this year.

“The mobile TV market in this country can grow into several billions of dollars in the next few years,” said Paik.

In a related announcement, the Open Mobile Video Coalition (OMVC), LG/Harris Communications, Samsung/Rohde & Schwarz and SES Americom said they will jointly test mobile digital TV technologies with consumers in 2008.

The OMVC is an alliance of 800 U.S. commercial and public broadcasters working with the development of mobile digital TV technologies. The group will work with SES Americom’s IP-Prime to test two new mobile digital television technologies in separate trials. These include the LG/Harris MPH system and the Samsung/Rohde & Schwarz developed A-VSB platform.

Several test markets will be selected by the OMVC. A sample of consumers will be chosen to receive and test mobile video content that will be broadcast to mobile and portable receiver devices.

Selected consumers will view local and national content and interactive programming. Consumer responses to each system will be solicited to understand the level of acceptance, behavior and preferences for the services.

In other news, LG unveiled several new LCD TVs in its 70 series, including a 52-inch 1080p wireless HDTV, model 52LG71, that is equipped with an integrated 802.11 wireless transmission system. The set is said to provide 1080p wireless transmission, simplified installation and eliminates the clutter of connected wires behind the TV.

The company also announced its 47-inch 1080p LED back-lit Slim Design LCD TV, model 47LG75. The LCD TV will be among LG’s first to employ LED backlighting for deeper colors, brighter images with higher black levels and greater screen longevity.