This week, digital TV company WRAL and Capitol Broadcasting Company’s (CBC) New Media Group are conducting a field test of mobile digital TV technology in the Raleigh-Durham, N.C. market.

The Triangle field test will demonstrate the new MPH system, which lets local broadcasters deliver digital television to mobile devices such as wireless phones, laptops and personal media players.

Two channels of specially encoded video will be broadcast over WRAL-DT for reception by prototype mobile handheld receivers. The test is intended to demonstrate mobile DTV reception in typical mobile customer environments such as riding in a car and walking in a park.

The MPH system takes advantage of digital TV’s multicast capabilities by using the same signal that brings over-the-air HDTV to viewers’ homes to also deliver mobile TV to handheld or other portable devices. 

Helping with the field trials are Harris Corporation, LG Electronics and Zenith. The MPH system is a candidate for the new mobile DTV standard now being finalized by the Advanced Television Systems Committee.

WRAL-TV and CBC are part of the Open Mobile Video Coalition, which is a nationwide group of broadcasters driving the deployment of mobile digital broadcast television.  Commercial deployments are expected next year.