{{Short description|Television for handheld or mobile device}} {{use dmy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Multiple issues| {{Primary sources|date=August 2015}} {{Globalize|article|United States|date=June 2020}} {{Update|date=September 2020}} }}
'''Mobile television''' is television (TV) watched on a small handheld or mobile device, typically developed for that purpose. It includes services delivered via mobile phone networks, received free-to-air via terrestrial television stations, or via satellite broadcast. Regular broadcast standards or special mobile TV transmission formats can be used. Additional features may include downloading TV programs and podcasts from the Internet and storing programming for later viewing. Except in South Korea, consumer acceptance of broadcast mobile TV was limited due to a lack of compatible devices.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/483472-Mobilizing_for_Mobile_DTV.php |title=Mobilizing for Mobile DTV |last=Winslow |first=George |work=Broadcasting & Cable |date=23 April 2012 |access-date=29 June 2012 |archive-date=2 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121202235122/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/483472-Mobilizing_for_Mobile_DTV.php |url-status=dead}}</ref>
Early mobile TV receivers were based on analog television systems. These models were the earliest televisions that could be placed in a coat pocket. The first was the Panasonic IC TV MODEL TR-001, introduced in 1970. The second was the Microvision or the MTV-1, and was also the first television that could pick up signals in multiple countries. The project took over ten years to develop and was funded by around £1.6 million in British government grants.<ref name="Clive's achievements">{{cite web |url-status=dead |url=http://www.sinclair-research.co.uk/about-srl.php |title=Sir Clive Sinclair & Sinclair Research Ltd |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060812075741/http://www.sinclair-research.co.uk/about-srl.php |archive-date=2006-08-12 |website=Sinclair Research}}</ref><ref name="Video and TV gear">"[http://www.retrothing.com/video_tv/index.html Video + TV gear]", Retro Thing.</ref> Later products used 2G and 3G cellular technology as well as digital TV spectrum.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last1=Allen |first1=JC |date=5 November 2008 |title=Korean mobile content kings spill the beans |url=http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1036976/korean-mobile-content-kings-spill-beans |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090809180330/http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1036976/korean-mobile-content-kings-spill-beans |archive-date=Aug 9, 2009 |website=The Inquirer}}</ref><ref name=":1">3G UK: The service is based on the [http://www.3g.co.uk/PR/March2006/2732.htm Golden Dynamic Enterprises Ltd.]'s [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2006_Dec_4/ai_n16881105 "VOIR Portal"] and follows the 3GPP standard 3G-324 M. The same service was also deployed to the Philippines in 2007.</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Thompson |first=Mark |date=2010-06-03 |title=mobile tv cell phone networks |url=http://mobitv.com/technology/managed-service-platform |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100515184507/http://www.mobitv.com/technology/managed-service-platform |archive-date=May 15, 2010 |access-date=2010-06-03 |work=Broadcasting & Cable}}</ref>
In the 2010s, specialized mobile TV platforms and protocols were discontinued worldwide due to the rapid deployment of LTE cellular networks and the growing popularity of streaming television over the internet on modern smartphones.<ref>{{cite web |title=Data traffic grew by 60 times in past 5 years – 99% of the data usage came from 4G in 2020 |url=https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/data-traffic-grew-by-60-times-in-past-5-years-99-of-the-data-usage-came-from-4g-in-2020/articleshow/80843169.cms |access-date=2021-11-23 |website=Business Insider}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Vora |first=Rutam |title=In 4G era, app, video streaming experience key for brand loyalty: Report |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/in-4g-era-app-video-streaming-experience-key-for-brand-loyalty-report/article9035994.ece |access-date=2021-11-23 |website=@businessline |date=26 August 2016 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=LTE broadcast will transform TV – results of a unique trial |url=https://www.nokia.com/blog/lte-broadcast-will-transform-tv-results-unique-trial/ |access-date=2021-11-23 |website=Nokia |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2021-01-08 |title=The Digital Revolution Is Disrupting the TV Industry |url=https://www.bcg.com/publications/2016/media-entertainment-digital-revolution-disrupting-tv-industry |access-date=2021-11-23 |website=BCG Global |language=en}}</ref>
== Implementation ==
=== East Asia === In 2002, South Korea was the first country to introduce commercial mobile TV via 2G CDMA IS95-C, and 3G (CDMA2000 1X EVDO) networks.<ref name=":0" /> In 2005, South Korea became the first country to broadcast satellite mobile TV via Satellite-DMB and Terrestrial-DMB. Mobile TV services were launched in Hong Kong in 2006 by the operator CSL on the 3G network.<ref name=":1" />
=== North America === In the US, Verizon Wireless and AT&T offered MediaFLO, a subscription service from March 2007 until March 2011.{{Citation needed|date=January 2026}} AT&T introduced AT&T Mobile TV in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Brien |first1=Kevin J. |date=May 6, 2008 |title=Mobile TV Spreading in Europe and to the U.S. |url=http://biz.yahoo.com/nytimes/080506/1194771946810.html?.v=18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310003226/http://biz.yahoo.com/nytimes/080506/1194771946810.html?.v=18 |archive-date=Mar 10, 2016 |website=Yahoo! Finance |agency=The New York Times}}</ref>
In 2007, the Advanced Television Systems Committee and the Consumer Electronics Association created an MDTV and began identifying compatible products as "MDTV".<ref name="mdtv">{{cite news |last=Dickson |first=Glen |date=2009-12-16 |title=ATSC Launches Certification Program For Mobile DTV |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/440764-ATSC_Launches_Certification_Program_For_Mobile_DTV.php?rssid=20102&q=digital+tv |access-date=2009-12-17 |work=Broadcasting & Cable}}</ref>
White House officials and members of Congress saw a demonstration on July 28, 2009 from Ion Media in conjunction with the Open Mobile Video Coalition.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dickson |first=Glen |date=2009-07-22 |title=ION, OMVC Organize DTV Showcase in D.C. |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/316065-ION_OMVC_Organize_DTV_Showcase_in_D_C_.php?rssid=20068&q=digital+tv |access-date=2009-07-22 |work=Broadcasting & Cable}}</ref><ref name="LIN">{{cite news |last=Eggerton |first=John |date=2009-08-07 |title=LIN TV Develops Blackberry App For Mobile TV Service |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/326796-LIN_TV_Develops_Blackberry_App_For_Mobile_TV_Service.php?q=digital+tv |access-date=2009-08-11 |work=Broadcasting & Cable}}</ref> Another demonstration took place October 16, 2009 with journalists, industry executives and broadcasters riding around Washington, D.C., in a bus with prototype devices. Included were those who would be testing the devices in the Washington and Baltimore markets in January 2010.<ref name="tour">{{cite news |last=Eggerton |first=John |date=2009-10-16 |title=OMVC Does Mobile DTV Tour |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/358415-OMVC_Does_Mobile_DTV_Tour.php?rssid=20103&q=digital+tv |access-date=2009-10-23 |work=Broadcasting & Cable}}</ref>
In 2009, the Open Mobile Video Coalition began testing with four stations: WATL, WPXA-TV, KOMO-TV, and KONG-TV.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dickson |first=Glen |date=2009-04-20 |title=NAB 2009: Broadcasters Set Mobile DTV Test Markets |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/209447-NAB_2009_Broadcasters_Set_Mobile_DTV_Test_Markets.php?rssid=20068&q=broadcasters+set+mobile+dtv+test+markets |access-date=2009-12-17 |work=Broadcasting & Cable}}</ref>
In 2009, FCC chair Julius Genachowski announced an effort to increase the spectrum available to wireless services.<ref name="October">{{cite news |last=Dickson |first=Glen |date=2009-10-16 |title=Mobile DTV Standard Approved |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/358341-Mobile_DTV_Standard_Approved.php?rssid=20292&q=digital+tv |access-date=2009-10-16 |work=Broadcasting & Cable}}</ref> Also in August, WTVE and Axcera began testing a single-frequency network (SFN) with multiple transmitters using the new mobile standard.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dickson |first=Glen |date=2009-12-18 |title=WTVE Tests SFN For Mobile DTV |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/441031-WTVE_Tests_SFN_For_Mobile_DTV.php?rssid=20065&q=digital+tv |access-date=2010-01-13 |work=Broadcasting & Cable}}</ref>
In December 2009, Concept Enterprises introduced the first mobile DTV tuner for automobiles.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gilroy |first=Amy |date=2009-11-09 |title=First Mobile DTV Car Tuner At $499 |url=http://www.twice.com/article/388144-First_Mobile_DTV_Car_Tuner_At_499.php/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091112153057/http://www.twice.com/article/388144-First_Mobile_DTV_Car_Tuner_At_499.php |archive-date=2009-11-12 |access-date=2009-11-10 |work=TWICE}}</ref>
On September 23, 2010, Media General began its first MDTV service at WCMH-TV in Columbus, Ohio and had plans to do the same a month later at WFLA-TV in the Tampa Bay, Florida area in addition to five to seven more stations in its portfolio.<ref>{{cite web |last=Winslow |first=George |date=2010-10-18 |title=Media General Expands MDTV Services |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/458539-Media_General_Expands_MDTV_Services.php |access-date=2010-12-02 |work=Broadcasting & Cable}}</ref>
On November 19, 2010, a joint venture of 12 major broadcasters known as the Mobile Content Venture (MCV) announced plans to upgrade TV stations in 20 markets representing 40 percent of the United States population to deliver live video to portable devices by the end of 2011.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kurz |first=Phil |date=2010-11-22 |title=OMVC welcomes Mobile Content Venture plans to upgrade stations for mobile video delivery |url=http://broadcastengineering.com/eng/omvc-welcomes-mobile-content-venture-plans-upgrade-stations-mobile-video-delivery-20101124/ |access-date=2011-02-08 |work=Broadcast Engineering}}</ref>
{{As of|2012|01}}, there were 120 stations in the United States broadcasting using the ATSC-M/H "Mobile DTV" standard.<ref>{{cite web |title=OMVC announces sizable growth in number of MDTV stations at CES |url=http://broadcastengineering.com/RF/OMVC-mobile-DTV-presence-announces-growth-CES-01192012/index.html |website=Broadcast Engineering |access-date=18 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922040843/http://broadcastengineering.com/RF/OMVC-mobile-DTV-presence-announces-growth-CES-01192012 |archive-date=22 September 2012 |date=19 January 2012}}</ref>
By early 2013, 130 stations were providing content, but the adoption of devices such as dongles was not widespread.<ref>{{cite news |last=Nakashima |first=Ryan |date=2013-04-07 |title=Broadcasters worry about 'Zero TV' homes |url=https://tv.yahoo.com/news/broadcasters-worry-zero-tv-homes-154357101--finance.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130409232428/https://tv.yahoo.com/news/broadcasters-worry-zero-tv-homes-154357101--finance.html |archive-date=2013-04-09 |access-date=2021-10-08 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>
In January 2012, the MCV announced that MetroPCS would offer MCV's Dyle mobile DTV service. Samsung planned an Android phone capable of receiving this service late in 2012.<ref>{{cite news |last=Winslow |first=George |date=2012-01-09 |title=Tech You Need to See |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/478677-Tech_You_Need_to_See.php |access-date=2012-08-09 |work=Broadcasting & Cable}}</ref> At the end of 2012, Dyle was in 35 markets and capable of reaching 55 percent of viewers.<ref>{{cite news |last=Winslow |first=George |date=2013-01-07 |title=Mobilizing the TV Business Remains a Challenge |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/491167-Mobilizing_the_TV_Business_Remains_a_Challenge.php |work=Broadcasting & Cable}}</ref> According to the home page on its website, "As of May 22, 2015, Dyle mobile TV is no longer in service, and Dyle-enabled devices and their apps will no longer be supported."<ref>{{cite web |title=Dyle TV |url=http://www.dyle.tv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151012113823/http://www.dyle.tv/ |archive-date=12 October 2015 |access-date=14 May 2016 |website=Dyle.tv}}</ref>
As of 2023, WNUV CW 54, a NextGen TV station in Baltimore, is broadcasting in a format called MobileW at 480p resolution for cell phone reception.<ref>Free Streaming Making Inroads with Traditional Television Consumers from The NPD Group: https://www.npd.com/wps/portal/npd/us/news/press-releases/the-npd-group-free-streaming-making-inroads-with-traditional-television-consumers/</ref>
=== Europe === BT launched mobile TV in the United Kingdom in September 2006, but the services were abandoned in less than a year.<ref>ZDnet: [http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/0,1000000085,39288247,00.htm BT ditches mobile TV service], 26 July 2007</ref> Germany had a failed endeavor with MFD Mobiles Fernsehen Deutschland, which launched their DMB-based service in June 2006 in Germany, but ended it in April 2008.<ref>Broadband TV news: [http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/?p=4682 MFD hands back German T-DMB licence], May 1, 2008</ref> Also in June 2006, mobile operator 3 in Italy (part of Hutchison Whampoa) launched their mobile TV service, but in contrast to Germany's MFD it was based on the European DVB-H standard.<ref>''The Register'': [https://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/07/28/dvbh_success_in_italy/ DVB-H rockets ahead in Italy], 28 July 2006</ref>
== Standards ==
=== Mobile network === * eMBMS (Evolved Mobile Broadcast Multicast Service) – also known as LTE Broadcast, transmissions are delivered through an LTE cellular network * 5G Broadcast – transmissions delivered through cellular networks to 5G-capable hardware
=== Terrestrial === * 1seg (One Segment) – Mobile TV system on ISDB-T * ATSC-M/H (ATSC Mobile/Handheld) – North America * DAB-IP (Digital Audio Broadcast) – UK * T-DMB (Terrestrial Digital Multimedia Broadcast) – South Korea * DMB-T/H – China * DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcasting – Handheld) – European Union, Asia ** DVB-T (Digital Video Broadcasting – Terrestrial) ** DVB-T2 ** DVB-T2 Lite – Europe, Africa, Asia and some countries in South America ** DVB-NGH * iMB (Integrated Mobile Broadcast, 3GPP MBMS) * ISDB-Tmm (Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting – Terrestrial Mobile Multimedia) – Japan * MediaFLO – launched in US, tested in UK and Germany
=== Satellite === * CMMB (China Mobile Multimedia Broadcasting) – China * DVB-SH (Digital Video Broadcasting – Satellite for Handhelds) – European Union * S-DMB (Satellite Digital Multimedia Broadcast) – South Korea
== See also == * Handheld projector * Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) via the GSM and UMTS cellular networks * IPTV * SPB TV * Mobile DTV Alliance – marketing organization * 3 mobile tv (UK) * Mobiclip * MobiTV * Nunet * Mobibase * Handheld television
== References == {{reflist|30em}}
== External links == {{Commons category}}
* {{cite web |last=Reardon |first=Marguerite |title=Local TV Could Spur Mobile TV Adoption|url=http://ces.cnet.com/8301-31045_1-10429822-269.html |publisher=CNET |access-date=2012-08-09 |date=2010-01-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911124846/http://ces.cnet.com/8301-31045_1-10429822-269.html |archive-date=2011-09-11 |url-status=dead}} * {{cite news |title=EU backs standard for mobile TV |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6902541.stm |work=BBC News |access-date=2012-08-09 |date=2007-07-18}}
{{Wireless video}} {{Broadcasting}} {{Telecommunications}} {{Mobile phones}}
Category:Mobile television Category:Broadcast engineering Category:Digital television Category:Mobile telephone broadcasting Category:Television technology Category:Telecommunications-related introductions in 1970