Hands On with Dyle Mobile TV
Jan 8, 2012, 10:55 PM by Rich Brome
The folks from MCV are at CES showing off their Dyle mobile TV service running on an unannounced Samsung phone for MetroPCS. We checked it out and learned a few things about how Dyle will work and what content will be available.
Dyle is the brand name for the new mobile TV service from the Mobile Content Venture (MCV), which is a joint venture of 16 broadcast TV groups, including content companies and local station owners. The big names you'll recognize are NBC and Fox. Mobile TV has been kicked around for years, but never really taken off in these parts. But with big names like NBC and Fox behind it, and a nice price - free - this might stand a chance.
Dyle phones use ATSC-M/H technology. ATSC-M/H is based on the ATSC standard, otherwise known as over-the-air broadcast HDTV. The same TV stations will broadcast the same content from the same antenna towers that serve your home.
Dyle service
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In other words, this isn't streaming video on your phone. It doesn't use any cell phone network at all. It's real network TV being broadcast literally right from the station to your phone. That makes it perfect for network TV shows as well as local news and sports.
The only difference between ATSC and ATSC-M/H is that ATSC-M/H is designed to handle receivers in motion, something ordinary ATSC can't do. Since it's a little different, each local TV station will need to install new equipment to broadcast this new signal.
But once your local TV station is sending out the signal, you can receive it with any Dyle-equipped phone. For. Free.
Well, that's how it will work in 2012, anyway. After that, MCV makes no promises. They hope it will stay free and be advertiser-supported, but again, no promises.
They also wouldn't address the issue of sports blackouts. They stressed that they are striving for a 100% simulcast, meaning absolutely no differences between the mobile and home content, including sports, but... no promises.
Another catch: no ABC and no CBS. At least not yet (they're in talks.) And this is network TV only; no cable channels. But hey, it's free.
Samsung Dyle phone
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The Dyle interface on the phone is slightly more than just a tuner. You have access to a searchable channel guide that includes upcoming programs.
The MCV reps wouldn't let us touch the prototype Samsung phone, although they admitted that it was "pretty darn close" to the final phone that MetroPCS will launch this year. It looks just like a Droid Charge, but with a giant retractable antenna quite suitable for impromptu fencing. Unfortunately, that's about all we can tell you about the phone for now.
Dyle is expected to launch "sometime in 2012"; they won't be more specific. Whenever it does launch, expect to see 33 markets, with at least two channels per market, for 70 total stations. If you do the math, that's a few Telemundo and Univision stations thrown in there, but probably 90% NBC and Fox.
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