(WICHITA, Kan.) — It's another first, KWCH is launching a new service making it possible to reach more people. Starting Friday June 15, 2012 one of our broadcasts will be available on computers, smart phones and tablets. It's called Mobile DTV and we're the first station in Wichita to do it.
In the beginning there was black and white. Then color came and we thought that was enough. But the future of television is actually in our hands. Cell phones, tablets and lap tops free us from sitting in our houses. But there's one thing we can't do with them yet, watch live television. "This service will allow our viewers to watch live TV on their devices wherever they are," said Joan Barrett President/General Manager of Sunflower Broadcasting, Inc.
Right now KWCH is broadcasting our Always On Storm Team 12 weather channel through a service called Mobile DTV. You'll be able to watch it with the help of a mobile TV adapter. The adapters will plug into your devices the same way other accessories do. If you remember, web cams used to have to be plugged into your computers but now they are built into them. And soon phones, tablets and computers will also have the Mobile DTV adapters built into them too.
Tech Talk: Mobile DTV explained
"This is technology coming later this year, but we're ahead of the curve. Once the adapters are for sale, users can get weather alerts and updates wherever they are and whenever they want," Barrett said. KWCH will be broadcasting on Mobile DTV only within the Wichita Metro Area to start with.
Now you're probably wondering, how will this work because Storm Team 12 is already streaming through the KWCH and Storm Team 12 smart phone Apps. Well this the Mobile DTV signal is broadcasting over the air and not being streamed over the internet. "When a strong storm is coming and the power goes out, chances are your phone will still have battery life to know when it's safe," said Storm Team 12 Chief Meteorologist Merril Teller.
"This is a service no one else in the Wichita market offers, and we're the first," said Barrett. The first to make TV available to you whenever and wherever you car.
