KOMO's new MyDTV app allows you to watch TV on the go
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Watching live TV on a tablet or smart phone can be a big drain on your wireless data plan if you are not using Wi-Fi.
Fisher Communications is looking to change all that make TV free for iPad and iPhone users.
If you live in the Seattle metro area between Northgate to the north, Federal Way to the south and Bellevue to the east and you own a iPad or iPhone, KOMO-TV would like you to participate in a test of its new Mobile DTV signaled called "MyDTV."
"This is a signal coming into your device that allows you watch free over the air television on the go, simple as that," says Fisher Communications President and CEO Colleen Brown.
Participants will be given a free micro antenna adapter that lets users receive KOMO-TV and other local TV stations on their iPad and iPhone without using any of their wireless data plan.
"This doesn't not eat into a user's data plan because this is a broadcast signal," says Brown.
Fisher Communications, the operators of KOMO-TV and the Mobile 500 Alliance have teamed up to offer this test. Brown is also the chair of The Mobile 500 Alliance board of directors. The Alliance is a group of technology partners including several broadcasting companies that created MyDTV.
With the antenna and the MyDTV app which is available for free on the iTunes app story, users will not only be able to watch live TV in the Seattle metro area, but have the ability to record their favorites shows from channels available on the app. Users can then watch those shows at later time. Playback is not dependent on where the device is located.
The app also features a channel guide, closed captioning and social media integration with Twitter.
KOMO-TV has been leading the implementation of the new Mobile DTV standard on a national level as an alternative way to get new, emergency alerts and entertainment free of cellular networks and expensive data plans.
"You can't beat broadcast TV when it's free and convenient," says Brown.
The MyDTV micro antenna adapters will be available to the general public at a later date. Eventually, manufacturers of smart phones could incorporate the chip necessary to receive a Mobile DTV signal into the device without the need of an external antenna.
If you are interested in participating in the MyDTV test, please register at komonews.com/mydtv.
In all, 750 people that meet the test requirements will be contacted by KOMO-TV with detail on how to receive their free MyDTV adapter.
Fisher Communications is looking to change all that make TV free for iPad and iPhone users.
If you live in the Seattle metro area between Northgate to the north, Federal Way to the south and Bellevue to the east and you own a iPad or iPhone, KOMO-TV would like you to participate in a test of its new Mobile DTV signaled called "MyDTV."
"This is a signal coming into your device that allows you watch free over the air television on the go, simple as that," says Fisher Communications President and CEO Colleen Brown.
Participants will be given a free micro antenna adapter that lets users receive KOMO-TV and other local TV stations on their iPad and iPhone without using any of their wireless data plan.
"This doesn't not eat into a user's data plan because this is a broadcast signal," says Brown.
Fisher Communications, the operators of KOMO-TV and the Mobile 500 Alliance have teamed up to offer this test. Brown is also the chair of The Mobile 500 Alliance board of directors. The Alliance is a group of technology partners including several broadcasting companies that created MyDTV.
With the antenna and the MyDTV app which is available for free on the iTunes app story, users will not only be able to watch live TV in the Seattle metro area, but have the ability to record their favorites shows from channels available on the app. Users can then watch those shows at later time. Playback is not dependent on where the device is located.
The app also features a channel guide, closed captioning and social media integration with Twitter.
KOMO-TV has been leading the implementation of the new Mobile DTV standard on a national level as an alternative way to get new, emergency alerts and entertainment free of cellular networks and expensive data plans.
"You can't beat broadcast TV when it's free and convenient," says Brown.
The MyDTV micro antenna adapters will be available to the general public at a later date. Eventually, manufacturers of smart phones could incorporate the chip necessary to receive a Mobile DTV signal into the device without the need of an external antenna.
If you are interested in participating in the MyDTV test, please register at komonews.com/mydtv.
In all, 750 people that meet the test requirements will be contacted by KOMO-TV with detail on how to receive their free MyDTV adapter.
This sucks!!!! I'll be in the area when they give them out, but I don't live in King Co. SUCK!!!!!
Is it possible to still get in on this test? Â I am a huge user of my iPad and would love to participate.
Here in the land of Microsoft, let's not forget those few of us who use Windows phones. When that happens, sign me up.
How about you work on getting a agreement settled so I can watch KOMO in my home on a TVÂ that would be GREAT ... then move to the phone idea!
People are dummies.
How about rethinking that "where you live" idea and change it to "are you mobile in that area". Â So I don't get a digital signal where I live, BUT if I did I'm not likely to be watching local TV on my ipad or iPhone when I pay Â
$100 a month to watch satellite or cable TV, I'm pretty sure I'll be watching KOMO on the big screen TV. Â However if I'm mobile during the day and like to stop and catch some live TV or have it on in the background while at work where I do get a signal then that would be a real test. Â Someone sitting at home in Seattle who gets a good digital signal really shouldn't be your test sample, it should be someone who is on the move during the day. Â This is what I need when I go to a Seahawk game instead of my little 3.5" digital TV.
@Duckman -- you can thank the TV broadcasting industry for forcing the particular method/version of HD Television broadcasting for forcing so many people to have to have cable TV to get reception.
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The HD television signal is too weak / easily disturbed to broadcast anywhere near the distances that the old analog TV signals were, and is far, far more 'line of sight' dependent.
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This makes it so that far, far fewer people can actually get an over the air broadcast signal, forcing us to use cable or satellite because we can't get the signal anymore.
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And that goes whether you're using this 'mobile service' or a TV at home.
Hey, what about the millions of us who use Android devices? What, we don't count? Bad move KOMO.
 @ferryguy I have to agree and I often wonder what is going on in the minds of companies that market to Apple products 1st and Android 2nd (if at all). Have they bothered to pay attention to the fact that Android products hold 80% of the market share?
I only know one individual that owns an i-phone and that is several years old now; he looks at my Galaxy s-3 and drools.
I have never owned an Apple product and I doubt I ever will. Consider the fact that Apple sells to people that love to get rid of their $ as fast as they can.
Have fun KOMO, let us know when you are ready to play with the real world!
 @Itsbroken  @ferryguy I'm not sure where you get that 80% figure. The latest figures (as of October 28, 2012) show iphone with 48.1% market share and Android with 46.7% market share.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/darcytravlos/2012/11/28/three-trends-underlying-apples-iphone-market-share-surge/
 @Itsbroken  @ferryguyÂ
I am an Android user, and I will say this: Â Apple users are more likely to have more money and are more likely to buy accessories. Â Accessories such as this add on are also much easier to manufacture and market for one hardware style rather than the many form factors of Android.. Â I love Android and my Nexus, but it's just the way it is.
 @ferryguyI am an android user too, but this makes sense as a pilot program since android is heterogenous hardware and it would be a bigger investment in the pilot for more phone support.