DTV

The company coordinating the use of wireless microphones at both the Republican and Democratic conventions is offering test unlicensed mobile devices at the same time it is testing microphones in the convention venues but before the action starts.

Sony, Samsung and other consumer-electronics heavyweights are uniting to support a technology that could send high-definition video signals wirelessly from a single set-top box to screens around the home.

Capitol Broadcasting's CBS affiliate teamed up with CBC New Media Group on the state's first field test of mobile digital television this week. The two parties will use the MPH system, which allows broadcasters to deliver DTV to mobile devices including cellular phones, laptops and personal media players.

Hispanic households are among the least prepared for the transition to digital TV next February.

According to the FCC, broadcasters collectively aired more than 1 million digital TV transition announcements in the most recent quarter. That broke down to 632,677 PSAs and 520,652 crawls, snipes or tickers.

The Recording Academy, which administers the Grammy Awards, wants the FCC to come to Chicago to test so-called "white spaces" devices in the field at the Lollapalooza music festival on Aug. 1.

The Hearst-Argyle Fort Smith, Ark., ABC affiliates are simulating an analog shutoff during every newscast on the 17th of each month from now until the digital transition next February.

Having volunteered to make the changeover to digital broadcasting on Sept. 8, the four commercial TV stations in the North Carolina market are doing all they can to make sure the transition goes smoothly. They are being supported by NAB and the FCC, which are pouring resources into the market. One station is scrambling to get its digital signal on the air, while another moves to a new tower where it expects to get much improved digital coverage.

The latest figures from Nielsen show that DVR penetration has climbed to 25% of U.S. homes—up 5% from nine months ago. Separately, data shows that households may increasingly be preparing — albeit not at breakneck speed — for their TV service to continue uninterrupted during next year's digital transition.