ION Media Networks Forms ‘OMVION,’ Open Mobile Ventures Corporation
ION Media Networks, Inc. (AMEX:ION) today announced the creation of Open Mobile Ventures Corporation (OMVION), a new business unit dedicated to the research and development of portable, mobile and out-of-home transmission technology utilizing over-the-air digital television spectrum.
OMVION offers a vehicle for like-minded broadcasters to align R&D efforts in the advancement and standardization of TV spectrum-driven mobile applications. ION is in dialogue with other broadcasters regarding an industry-wide alliance for digital television spectrum-based mobile video distribution.
“ION Media Networks is in three businesses: broadcasting, multicasting and datacasting,” said Brandon Burgess, President and CEO of ION Media Networks. “The creation of OMVION will help us advance mobile datacasting activities in collaboration with like-minded broadcasters. Over 100 million video-capable mobile devices will be sold in the U.S. this year. OMVION’s mission is to deliver video to such consumer devices using DTV broadcast spectrum.”
OMVION will be managed and staffed by ION’s engineering department under the oversight of David Glenn, ION’s President of Engineering. ION has also retained former Disney Corporate Strategy executive Dan Hsieh to assist with developing an R&D and business plan for the development, marketing and deployment of digital terrestrial TV spectrum-based mobile applications. OMVION will establish three mobile DTV test centers in New York City, Tampa and Washington, D.C. for prototyping and development of mobile DTV and single frequency distributed networking technologies.
“Countries such as Japan, Korea and Italy have demonstrated that digital terrestrial spectrum offers a compelling platform for mobile video delivery,” said Mr. Glenn. “As we advance testing in this country, we hope that other U.S. TV broadcasters will join OMVION in advancing the use of digital broadcast TV technology to deliver content to mobile devices and unwired locations.”
OMVION has the backing of various consumer hardware and transmission equipment manufacturers who are supportive of digital TV broadcasters advancing the adoption of terrestrial portable and mobile TV video standards similar in nature of those used in other countries around the world.
One of the merits of using terrestrial TV spectrum for the distribution of mobile video and data is its existing infrastructure, which has already been built out by local television stations with high-quality broadcast towers in every market. Additionally, digital TV spectrum frequencies are far superior to higher frequencies, such as satellite video and satellite radio frequencies, in penetrating walls, structures and changing weather conditions. Furthermore, the cost per user stream of DTV delivery is measurably lower than that of cellular or Wimax systems, which allows mobile DTV consumer pricing to be significantly more attractive, leading to higher adoption and utilization.
About ION Media Networks
ION Media Networks, Inc. owns and operates the nation’s largest broadcast television station group and ION Television, reaching over 90 million U.S. television households via its nationwide broadcast television, cable and satellite distribution systems. ION Television currently features popular television series and movies from the award-winning libraries of Warner Bros., Sony Pictures Television, CBS Television and NBC Universal. In addition, the network has partnered with RHI Entertainment, which owns over 4,000 hours of acclaimed television content, to provide high-quality primetime programming beginning July 2007. Utilizing its digital multicasting capability, ION Media Networks has launched several new digital TV brands, including qubo, a television and multimedia network for children formed in partnership with Scholastic, Corus Entertainment, Classic Media and NBC Universal, as well as a television and multimedia network dedicated to health and wellness for consumers and families. For more information, please visit www.ionmedia.tv.