In-Car Mobile DTV Tuner Shown At $499: Can Mobile DTV Take Off?

It was certified without making too much fuss (maybe because Americans don't really seem that fond of watching TV on the go?), but at any rate, the ATSC gave the green light to the Mobile DTV standard just a few months ago. The result? A new protocol for companies to jump on, and in the end, we should be looking at a range of channels that can be distributed over the air at high speeds for broadcasting content that's typically watched on full-size TVs to mobile devices.

Now, Concept Enterprises is showcasing what looks to be the first-ever Mobile DTV box made specifically for automotive installations, which would bring Mobile DTV signals to a car. It's designed to connected to any built-in or third-party monitor, and since it can handle signals even at high-speeds, you should be able to watch TV at highway speeds. Of course, Mobile DTV is only available in a few cities at the moment, but we're expecting the service to spread once it gains a little traction.


The Concept box is priced at $499, and we're assuming the signals would be free much like OTA signals are received by TV tuners today. Would you spring for that even if you could only watch when driving around the city? Seems like a pretty high asking price with portable video solutions running rampant.