ION Media Networks and a Fox station group have successfully tested a mobile TV network in Chicago and Denver, and are now gearing up for a big push at January’s Consumer Electronics Show. The broadcasters tested Mobile Pedestrian Handheld technology, which is being developed by Harris, LG Electronics (SEO: 066570) and Samsung. The system will soon go to the Advanced Television Systems Committee for a final standardizations approval. Various companies wanted their technologies to be picked for the standard, but to speed up the process, some of them joined forces to create a single standard that will be submitted to the ATSC in what will likely be its final form next month. The Open Mobile Video Coalition, which represents more than 800 local stations, has been pushing for the mobile digital TV standard for a while now and hopes manufacturers will get enough time to develop products for late 2009. Various handset manufacturers are expected to show working prototypes at CES, but other devices such as portable TVs, laptops and media players are expected to be in play too. Release.

Broadcasters are making a play that could directly compete with Qualcomm’s MediaFLO and the carrier’s various streaming video and TV services, but some doubt carriers will agree to sell devices that would sidestep their more expensive services. Broadcasters do have an advantage—they own the local rights to popular shows and live events that have been missing from some of the carrier alternatives. Broadcasters also have advertisers that might feel more comfortable investing in a multi-platform campaign that’s being pitched by more traditional media outlets, rather than a brand new service.

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