Digital television broadcaster WRAL, in conjunction with Capitol Broadcasting (CBC) New Media Group, is sponsoring North Carolina's first field test of mobile digital television technology in the Raleigh-Durham TV market this week.

The trial is designed to demonstrate the new MPH mobile television transmission system, which allows local broadcasters to deliver digital television to mobile devices including mobile phones, laptops and personal media players, even when travelling in fast-moving vehicles.

MPH developers - LG Electronics (Zenith) and Harris Broadcast Communications -will give WRAL an opportunity to demonstrate the capabilities of their system.

"This is another exciting demonstration of the power of digital television," stated James F. Goodmon, Capitol Broadcasting CEO. "This is great for WRAL and for the industry as digital provides a complete viewer experience from crystal-clear high-definition television for the home to superb mobile quality for the car and handheld devices. Mobile DTV broadcasting enables WRAL to better serve our viewers, communities and advertisers by providing a strong combination of anywhere access, two-way communication and mobility."

The Triangle field trials will be completed by 25 July and in the test, two channels of specially encoded video will be broadcast over WRAL-DT for reception by prototype mobile handheld receivers.

"Mobile DTV broadcasting is a major part of our future and we are excited to demonstrate the MPH system," explained Jimmy Goodmon, CBC New Media Group VP/GM. "We look forward to deploying a fully standardised system that builds on MPH and includes all of the interactive functionality mobile viewers will expect."

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 forecast for 2009.

Added, Dr. Jong Kim, LG's Zenith R&D president. "The landmark mobile TV field trials in the Raleigh-Durham market build on WRAL's long-time pioneering role in DTV broadcasting. LG Electronics applauds CBC for its vision and foresight, preparing now for next year's commercialisation of mobile/handheld DTV broadcasting."