WASHINGTON, DC - A broad array of organizations joined today to officially launch The Future of TV Coalition with the goal of supporting and promoting digital broadcasting in public policy. The alliance brings together constituencies that rely on broadcast television services, including elected local officials, programming distributors, electronic equipment manufacturers and multicast networks.
"The Coalition supports the evolution of broadcast television and its integration with other technologies and across many platforms," reads the Coalition's mission statement. "Our members work together to advance public policy initiatives that allow broadcasters to continue to rigorously innovate and invest to better serve consumers."
Facilitated by the National Association of Broadcasters, the Coalition unites organizations that have expressed concern that legislative and regulatory initiatives currently under discussion in Washington could jeopardize the future of over-the-air broadcasting. In addition to promoting local broadcasters' ability to reach all members of their communities, Coalition members promote policies that preserve viewer access to new initiatives made possible by the analog-to-digital transition. Completed two years ago, the DTV transition has enabled broadcasters to offer new services such as high-definition programming, digital multicast channels and mobile DTV.
"Broadcasters are just now unveiling the new innovative services made possible by the DTV transition, which has enabled the promotion of more community voices on local television," said National Association of Broadcasters President and CEO Gordon Smith. "The members of this coalition understand the importance and benefit of preserving this expansion of consumer choice on television. We look forward to working with the Coalition to help policymakers understand the enduring value of broadcasting and ensuring that our best and brightest days are still ahead."
Speaking at today's launch at the National Association of Broadcasters headquarters were: NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith; Bounce TV co-founder and former U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young; Vme Founding President & CEO Carmen DiRienzo; Gannett Broadcasting President Dave Lougee; and President of Antennas Direct Richard Schneider.
The members of the Coalition are: Antennas Direct, Bounce TV, The Center for Asian American Media, County Executives of America, The Country Network, Digitenna, DLT Entertainment Limited, LATV Networks & American Latino Syndication, Luken Communications, MHz Networks, Native American Public Telecommunications, New York Television Festival, Open Mobile Video Coalition, Pacific Islanders in Communications, Qubo, This TV and Vme Media.
"The Coalition represents a broad range of interests invested in strengthening broadcasters' ability to deliver high-quality local news, weather, sports and emergency information," said Smith. "We anticipate the organization will grow considerably over time as broadcasting evolves onto new mobile platforms and local TV stations continue to expand programming choices."
Also at the press conference, Ambassador Young announced that Bounce TV has signed a distribution agreement with Gannett Broadcasting to make WUSA-TV the exclusive provider of Bounce TV in Washington, D.C. More information can be found here.
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