SEOUL, South Korea, May 14 /PRNewswire/ — LG Electronics (LG) and Samsung
Electronics (Samsung), which together lead the global digital TV market,
announced today that they will propose their jointly developed technology as
the North American technology standard for mobile DTV.
Samsung and LG held a signing ceremony at Seoul Plaza Hotel in Seoul,
Korea, on May 14, 2008. Executives from the two companies attended the event,
including Woo Paik, LG’s President and CTO, and JongWoo Park, President of
Samsung Digital Media Business.
At the ceremony, the two companies agreed to cooperate in order to assure
rapid adoption by the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) of a single
common in-band mobile DTV standard.
Technology for the jointly proposed system will reflect the findings of
the IDOV (Independent Demonstration of Viability) conducted by the Association
of Maximum Service Television (MSTV) on behalf of the Open Mobile Video
Coalition (OMVC). A report on IDOV will be submitted by the OMVC to the ATSC.
The jointly promoted mobile DTV solution uses the existing terrestrial
digital TV broadcast bandwidth, with no impact on existing digital TV and with
minimum broadcasting equipment investment.
“LG and Samsung are already world-class in digital TV and mobile
communications,” said LG President and Chief Technology Officer Woo Paik.
“Through this collaboration, we also have an opportunity to lead the North
American mobile DTV market.”
Added JongWoo Park, President of Samsung Digital Media Business: “Our
collaboration on North American mobile DTV standardization will help
accelerate the ATSC standardization of mobile TV technology, which will
benefit both consumers and broadcasters.”
ATSC is expected to adopt the mobile/handheld DTV standard for the North
American market in early 2009 following trials of the technology by the Open
Mobile Video Coalition (OMVC), a group of leading U.S. broadcasters who are
vigorously promoting the development and early deployment of mobile DTV.
According to a study commissioned by the National Association of
Broadcasters (NAB), with the adoption of a single ATSC mobile/handheld DTV
standard, the U.S. market for mobile DTV phones will reach 130 million units
by the end of 2012, with the market for portable media device mobile DTV
receivers growing to include an additional 25 million units. (Source: “Study
of the Impact of Multiple Systems for Mobile/Handheld Digital Television,” BIA
Financial Network, January 14, 2008.)
About LG Electronics, Inc.
LG Electronics, Inc. (KSE: 066570.KS) is a global leader and technology
innovator in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications,
employing more than 82,000 people working in 114 operations including 82
subsidiaries around the world. With 2007 global sales of USD 44 billion, LG is
comprised of four business units - Mobile Communications, Digital Appliance,
Digital Display and Digital Media. LG is the world’s leading producer of
mobile handsets, flat panel TVs, air conditioners, front-loading washing
machines, optical storage products, DVD players and home theater systems. For
more information, please visit http://www.lge.com.
About Samsung Electronics
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor,
telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with
2007 consolidated sales of US$103.4 billion. Employing approximately 150,000
people in 134 offices in 62 countries, the company consists of five main
business units: Digital Media Business, LCD Business, Semiconductor Business,
Telecommunication Business and Digital Appliance Business. Recognized as one
of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading
producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more
information, please visit http://www.samsung.com.
SOURCE LG Electronics, Inc.; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.