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Japan’s mobile digital TV explained
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A digital TV service intended for cellphones and other devices officially kicked off in Japan on Saturday. The service, called “1-seg,” offers a simulcast of terrestrial TV channels and is completely free to air.

Broadcasts began in many regions across the country and Tokyo-based viewers should be able to watch at least seven TV channels through the service.

— The broadcast is transmitted as part of Japan’s digital TV service. The service divides each digital TV broadcasting channel into 13 segments, 12 of which are typically used for an MPEG2 high-definition stream for television sets and the final one, which is used for an MPEG4 stream for mobile devices.

This MPEG4 stream is QVGA resolution (320 pixels by 240 pixels), which means it’s better suited for processing by small, portable devices like cellphones.

Carried alongside the TV stream is a data service that can provide general information to viewers and data related to the TV program being broadcast. NHK, the national broadcaster, is sending news and weather information alongside its programs, and interactive services are planned. If the receiving device is a cellphone, then a communications channel back to the broadcast station is easy to establish.

Knowledge of the new service is already high among potential users, according to a survey conducted among 6,000 people in early March by NTT. Just over half of the people surveyed said they had heard of “1-seg” broadcasting. When asked how they might utilize the service, the main reason was to kill time while waiting. News, weather and music programming were ranked as the most attractive content, the survey found.

Service-ready phones are already on the market, with more planned for release. NTT DoCoMo, Japan’s largest cellular carrier, offers one handset from Panasonic and KDDI’s au service has two available handsets, from Hitachi and Sanyo. Vodafone plans to offer a 1-seg TV handset from later this year.

With the new service Japan becomes the second country to begin dedicated terrestrial digital broadcasts for cell phones and other portable receivers. South Korea started a similar service in December 2005.

— Martyn Williams (IDG News Service)

05:26 PM Mark Hiratsuka • Permalink
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