• by Wayne Friedman , September 25, 2013

The broadcast TV network business isn’t dead yet. A new type of broadcast networks might start up soon.

AT&T is looking to start up a broadcast network using LTE-Broadcast technology, which is normally a two-way mobile broadband network. The new LTE-Broadcast network will turn into a one-way multicast network, similar to those used by TV broadcasters.

Randall Stephenson, chairman/chief executive officer of AT&T, announced the network at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia Conference. Why a broadcast-like network? An LTE-Broadcast network can push out live video to many multiple devices without jamming up and causing the traffic slowdown that can occur with other digital pipes.

The new network comes out of its MediaFLO acquisition from Qualcomm in December 2011. MediaFLO was to be a TV-video packager of TV and video networks. AT&T believes the network could get going in three years.

The existing technology would turn mobile phone cell sites into broadcast transmitters. Each cell receives the same transmissions, but can broadcast different content to users -- which is good for distributing real-time content.