The National Association of Broadcasters has announced a new pilot program to begin in the D.C. - Baltimore area that will allow people to watch free digital TV on wireless phones and other devices.

Local affiliate television will broadcast their programs beginning in late summer for devices that includes cells, laptops and car systems.

The trial in the Baltimore-Washington area is expected to begin this summer as the first step toward free mobile DTV.  This new system is expected to be offered in 28 markets, including Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Boston and San Francisco.

Broadcasters throughout the country are switching to all-digital transmission in June as part of a government mandate. And as part of the switch, some broadcasters will also broadcast their over-the-air TV signals on a digital sub-channel for mobile devices. The standard that will be used to transmit the signal is called ATSC Mobile DTV. And the hope is that consumer electronics makers, like cell phone manufacturers, will include the technology in their products so that they can receive the signals.

 Today, three of the four major wireless operators already offer their own mobile TV services. AT&T, Sprint, Nextel and Verizon Wireless each sell TV packages for around $10 to $15 per month. These services include a mix of live TV as well as on-demand programming and specialized mobile-only content.  However, building an ecosystem of products and services around the technology is the biggest obstacle.  At the moment there are no devices that support mobile DTV, but there are prototypes being researched.  Samsung and LG are showing off mobile DTV handsets while Dell is producing an Inspiron Mini10 Netbook PC with a built-in Mobile TV tuner.  These devices won't be available unless U.S. carriers contract them out, which may be more difficult to achieve than building the devices.  In the U.S., wireless operators control the cell phone market and determine what will be available on which devices.

Recently, MobiTV announced MixTV, which it is partnering with Sinclair and PBS to create.  The MixTV model hybrids free mobile DTV with a subscription based on-demand programming.  The company is showing off how a hybrid approach could allow broadcasters, mobile operators, and content providers more interactive and personal ways to advertise to consumers.

Submitted By: Rick Bartlett, Senior Editor