Samsung develops first chip for US mobile digital TV transmission, provides no release date
By Darren Murph 
posted Oct 19th 2009 9:33AM
posted Oct 19th 2009 9:33AM
Mmm, nothing like a pinch of predictability to wake us in the morning. Just days after the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) finally announced that a North American mobile DTV standard was struck, Samsung has jumped in with what it's calling the planet's first single chip solution designed to handle those very transmissions. All we're told is that the solution combines RF and "digital chip components" into one 65 nanometer chip, making it ideal for smaller devices such as smartphones, car-mounted televisions and portable media players. Of course, Sammy doesn't even bother to mention a mass production date, so we're guessing we all just rise awkwardly and start a roaring slow clap to celebrate the accomplishment.
Inquiring minds are asking why?
Looks like the broadcasters will use the public airwaves they got for free from Congress and then turn around and charge cell phone users for the signal.
This is the mobile version of ATSC, not MediaFLO. The latter is the subscription service, and that's not running on spectrum given away for free.