Airwavz.tv is in the business of making Over-The-Air (OTA) broadcast television instantly accessible to people who own smartphones tablets and laptops. We are actively developing a portfolio of hybrid ATSC 1.0 and 3.0 end-user devices for North America, and our flagship mobile DTV product is Quarterback, that works on any global digital TV standard.
Quarterback solves the technical challenges and political obstacles of integrating digital TV antennas and receivers into mobile devices. Our aim is to enable broadcast television on mobiles quickly, easily and affordably. Customers tell us they are delighted to discover dozens of hidden TV channels with great video content, without needing a subscription – and that the quality of digital TV on a smartphone is truly impressive.
Last week, an important political, and technical debate erupted about whether the FCC should mandate the integration of ATSC 3.0 receivers into mobile devices. Major stakeholders from every industry came forward to establish their legitimate position on FCC Docket 16-142, giving the public a rare opportunity to read hard-hitting technical facts, interpret political motivation, and understand the long-term ramifications.
We too, read the comments and letters to FCC Docket 16-142 with enthusiastic curiosity, and our takeaway is that Airwavz.tv remains committed to being the inveterate bridge between television broadcasters, network infrastructure and wireless carriers. We take the consumers best interest in this debate, which appears to be an “outside” vs. “inside” solution. In other words, consumers want access to OTA digital TV and they don’t care how they get it, as long as the solution is easy, affordable and works as expected.
The most efficient and logical path to growing ATSC 3.0 mobile adoption is designing and building an intelligent roadmap of “inside and outside” end-user devices, deployed over time and focused on giving consumers the best possible TV experience.
While television broadcasters are undertaking extraordinary business and financial measures to decide when (and if) they will upgrade from ATSC 1.0 to ATSC 3.0, they are also working hard to expedite the spectrum repack and financing the necessary SFN national build plan. Because this work has a tremendous impact on the quality and availability of ATSC 3.0 for mobiles, the comments made to FCC Docket 16-142 by Nokia, T-Mobile, Motorola and Ericsson are technically accurate and fiscally sound.
ATSC 3.0 is the new gold rush. Right now there is ample opportunity to invest in every facet of the ATSC 3.0 eco-system and broadcast television’s unparalleled coverage and capacity. Quarterback hybrid ATSC 1.0 and 3.0 receivers give consumers the best of both TV and wireless in a quick, easy, affordable solution.