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Tuesday, May 29, 2007
R Jai Krishna
NEW DELHI: Even as the telecom industry is debating with the government for spectrum allocation for launch of 3G or triple play services, State-owned television broadcaster Doordarshan has launched mobile TV on the DVB-H platform.
Talking to CyberMedia News here on the sidelines of the International Workshop on DVB-H Mobile TV, Dr Helmut Stein, member of steering board and president of marketing and communications at DVB, said that Digital Video Broadcasting for Handheld devices (DVB-H) is an open-standard and specification developed for terrestrial television channels by the Digital Video Broadcasting forum based in Germany.
“DVB-H is a technology that allows simultaneous transmission of multiple channels of television, radio and data to a range of multimedia devices including mobile phones, PDA’s, PC’s and other handheld devices. It is a new concept which is going to change the face of television,” he said.
Stein said DVB-H offered a number of advantages, which include better reception quality, increased channel carrying capacity, new features such as program guides to facilitate navigation, multi-view and interactive services. “DVB-H brings with it the capability to continually enhance services provided to subscribers, both from a video perspective and from new applications,” he informed.
“DVB works on the IP platform, similar to GSM technology. The signals are transmitted via towers like the GSM telephony, and handsets have to be developed for better transmission for a larger area,” Stein said.
“DVB forum is working on a next level of technology for satellite television channels – DVB-SH, which is due to be released later this year and the commercial launch will be in 2009-2010. The satellite technology is being given major thrust as the DVB-H is limited to terrestrial television channels and satellite signals can reach even the remotest parts of the country,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion, B S Lalli, CEO of Prasar Bharti, the managing body of Doordarshan said the television broadcaster has launched a pilot project with transmission of eight channels and will increase it to 16 channels by end of the year.
The television channels on DVB-H platform will be made available within 10 kms radius from the Parliament Street, New Delhi.
“Though the pilot project has been proceeding smoothly, however the challenge is in creating content. The new format will have to be calibrated for interactivity and the content has to be re-purposed. We will have to create tailor-made content,” he added.
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