KernelPanic Posted April 10, 2007 Posted April 10, 2007 Mobile TV tests begin Karen Dearne APRIL 10, 2007 PAY media platform provider Irdeto Access will run a mobile television trial in Sydney using one of two spare television channels to be sold later this year. Irdeto plans to test digital broadcasting of television to mobile handheld devices. The three-month pilot has been approved by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, which has also granted an extension of Broadcast Australia's datacasting trial, Digital Forty Four on channel 35. Broadcast Australia live-streams information services, but public uptake has been modest because of the shortage of digital television receivers, and the no-fun content rule. ACMA will allow the datacast to continue until the spectrum allocation process is completed. Two channels, dubbed A and B, are to be licensed to operators for a minimum 10 years on a price-based arrangement. Channel A can only be used for free-to-air datacasting, narrowcasting or community television broadcasts to standard digital television receivers and set-top boxes. Channel B can be used for a wider range of services, including mobile television. Irdeto, a wholly owned subsidiary of multinational media group Naspers, specialises in content security for digital television, internet protocol television and mobile environments. Based in the Netherlands, Irdeto provides hardware and software products for pay media providers, including pay television, telcos, mobile operators and government agencies. In Sydney, it will be testing handheld digital video broadcasting (DVB-H) mobile television technology. ACMA chairman Chris Chapman said Irdeto's results would help inform stakeholders "on the technical characteristics of the DVB-H system and market interest in mobile television". The trial involves a demonstration of Irdeto's security systems for content owners, so high-quality content can be delivered without fear of piracy. It will also assess how well DVB-H operates with a variety of mobile handsets and network operators. Meanwhile, the Australian Digital Suppliers Industry Forum has called for a firm date for the switchover to digital television. At present, the federal Government has only committed to a 2010-12 timeframe. Without a firm switchover date, the ADSIF fears "analogue television services will continue indefinitely", holding back the development of new digital offerings for local audiences. ADSIF chair Ross Henderson said the switch would free the five channels used for analogue television so they could be reallocated. Because digital broadcasting requires less bandwidth, the spectrum will support dozens of new digital television, radio and wireless services. "A firm switchover date will give certainty and a focus for broadcasters, suppliers, retailers and installers," Mr Henderson said. "Government and industry will have to work together to ensure the transition is as seamless as possible for viewers still watching analogue television. We need to give them adequate time to make the conversion." A spokeswoman for Communications Minister Helen Coonan said ACMA was due to report on a suitable timetable for the switchover. "Once that advice is received, it will become part of the Digital Action Plan," she said. "During the transition, the Government's priority is consumers. We want to ensure that Australians are not left behind in the switch to digital television." It is understood the minister will receive ACMA's report in June.
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