LAS VEGAS (National Association
of Broadcasters - Trade Show), April 13, 2007: Samsung Electronics
Co., Ltd. announced at NAB 2006 (followed by a live demonstration
with handheld devices at the International Consumer Electronics Show
(ICES) in January 2007) a new innovative technology that enables portable
and mobile TV digital broadcasting in North America at very low cost,
using broadcasters' existing facilities and frequency spectrum. At
NAB 2007, Samsung will not only demonstrate an A-VSB mode with twice
the efficiency (using half the broadcasting bandwidth) compared to
Samsung's previous demonstration in January, but will also demonstrate
the power of A-VSB's Single Frequency Network (SFN) tool for the first
time.
Advanced-VSB (A-VSB) is a proposed open standard that broadcasters
can implement at low cost, providing an all-new distribution channel
through which broadcasters can reach consumers with live TV on the
go via portable media devices, whether traveling by car or bus or
walking down the street.v
For the duration of NAB, live A-VSB transmissions will be sent
from local Sinclair Broadcast Group TV station KVMY Las Vegas to
mobile receivers operating on a chartered bus in the Convention
Center area, using the station's current transmitter and frequency.
The same programming will also be re-transmitted at a second frequency
on a separate low-power SFN. The SFN is being set up with the support
of ION Media Networks (which previously has conducted limited testing
of A-VSB in Tampa, Florida) and will be operated under an experimental
license to ION from the Federal Communications Commission. The SFN
will have three transmitter sites, two located on structures north
and south of the Convention Center along the Las Vegas Strip and
one inside the Convention Center at the ATSC Digital TV Hot Spot.
The SFN demonstration will show how A-VSB makes it easy for broadcasters
to maintain complete signal coverage and transmission, filling in
gaps between buildings and behind mountains for maximum service
quality.
Together, Samsung Electronics and Rohde & Schwarz have developed
A-VSB as a dramatic enhancement to the Advanced Television Systems
Committee (ATSC) digital TV transmission standard.
The technology is being standardized in ATSC, and an ATSC-supervised
lab test was conducted in November 2006, with field tests to be
mounted in the first half of 2007. A completed standard is targeted
for 2007, with implementation by broadcasters and consumer electronics
manufacturers beginning soon afterward, aiming toward widespread
commercial services before the February 2009 transition to all-digital
TV broadcasting in the United States.
To support the rapid development of new services and new businesses
for broadcasters, Samsung intends to make A-VSB evaluation kits
(including prototype transmission and reception equipment) available
on a limited basis to broadcasters and other partner companies in
the third quarter of 2007.
Broadcasters Excited About A-VSB-Enabled Mobile Services
"Delivering mobile TV to consumers is critical to broadcasters
and advertisers alike," said Brandon Burgess, President and
CEO of ION Media Networks." By building partnerships across
the industry and with strong companies like Samsung that are using
advanced technologies, we believe we can capitalize on this growing
opportunity. We are pleased to be testing A-VSB with Samsung and
Rohde & Schwarz and supporting their A-VSB technology demonstration
at NAB 2007."
"Sinclair has been a vocal advocate for mobile and portable
services for a very long time," said Del Parks, VP of Engineering
and Operations, Sinclair Broadcast Group. "We are pleased to
support this technology demonstration at NAB in order to showcase
the mobile and portable capabilities of A-VSB to the industry using
the ATSC standard. This technology will enhance the value of our
digital television spectrum by allowing us to provide services to
cell phones, laptops and vehicles using our over the air signal."
What is Advanced-VSB?
A-VSB technology builds on the current ATSC transmission standard
to enhance the ability of receivers to display television broadcasts
while in motion, both indoors and outdoors. It also allows broadcasters
to include multiple "turbo-coded" streams within the current
main stream, resulting in stronger, clearer signal transmission.
In addition, A-VSB eases the synchronization of broadcast signal
timing among different towers in a Single Frequency Network (SFN).
SFNs can improve the quality of broadcast service by providing uniform
signal strength throughout a service area, so that receivers can
receive a stronger signal from a nearby transmitter and take advantage
of the spatial separation of multiple transmitters to mitigate obstacles
such as hills and buildings.
How does A-VSB work?
First, a broadcaster adds a specified Supplementary Reference Sequence
(SRS) to the transmitted signal. A-VSB receivers use the SRS in
order to remain locked on to the transmission-including both the
main signal and extra turbo signal(s)--even when dynamic interference
would normally disrupt a signal, such as when the signal is reflected
by moving objects near the receiver. A-VSB also makes it possible
for the receiver to stay locked on to the signal when the receiver
itself is moving, such as when a viewer is traveling with a portable
TV. Moreover, as Samsung will demonstrate again at NAB 2007, the
combination of SRS and Turbo code makes reception possible at high
mobile speeds, such as in a car or on a train, and in urban environments
which have a large amount of interference reflected from buildings
and objects. When implemented, this breakthrough will enable fully
mobile TV services using the existing frequencies and facilities
of broadcasters, with minor upgrades to their transmitting equipment.
For the first time at NAB 2007, Samsung will demonstrate a "half-rate
Turbo" mobile reception mode using half the bandwidth of the
previously demonstrated "quarter-rate Turbo" mode. Half-rate
mode is targeted for highway speeds, rather than the faster bullet
train speeds which quarter-rate mode enables.
Is A-VSB backward compatible?
Yes, broadcasters can implement A-VSB technology with no impact
on legacy (non-A-VSB) digital TV receivers, which will ignore the
added information in the signal while continuing to receive the
main TV stream (e.g., High-Definition TV programming). In addition,
as A-VSB technology helps broadcasters deploy SFNs to fill gaps
in the coverage of their service area, owners of legacy receivers
may find their reception quality is also improved.
Samsung A-VSB at NAB 2007
Samsung will demonstrate A-VSB live at the ATSC Digital TV Hot Spot
at NAB 2007. In addition, Samsung will conduct live mobile demonstrations
on private invitation-only bus tours on April 16, 17 and 18 (with
a press tour at 1 PM each day), leaving from the Renaissance Hotel,
which is across the street from the South Hall of the Las Vegas
Convention Center. To reserve a spot on a press tour, please contact:
Jeff Newelt, MWW Group, jnewelt@mww.com
About Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
Headquartered in Ridgefield Park, NJ, Samsung Electronics America,
Inc. (SEA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co.,
Ltd., markets a broad range of award-winning, advanced digital consumer
electronics, information systems and home appliance products. The
SEA organization oversees the North American operations of Samsung
including Samsung Telecommunications America, LP, Samsung Electronics
Canada, Inc. and Samsung Electronics Mexico, Inc. Please visit www.samsung.com
for more information.
About Samsung Electronics
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor,
telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies
with 2006 parent company sales of US$63.4 billion and net income of
US$8.5 billion. Employing approximately 138,000 people in 124 offices
in 56 countries, the company consists of five main business units:
Digital Media Business, LCD Business, Semiconductor Business, Telecommunication
Network 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 www.samsung.com |
