• TVNewsday, Thursday, April 16, 2009 10:15 AM

WRAL Raleigh, N.C., is simulcasting its regular mix of local news, syndication and CBS programming to a city bus equipped with receivers and two plasma screens. The station is claiming to be offering the nation's first mobile digital TV service.

At the end of this week the reception equipment will be removed from the bus and shipped to Las Vegas for demos at next week's NAB Show. After the convention, four buses in Raleigh will be equipped for mobile as part of a test on reception quality and consumer interest, says WRAL owner James Goodmon.

Goodmon says he checked with CBS before beginning the mobile service, but feels he doesn't need a copyright green light from either the network or the syndicators. The WRAL programming on the bus plasma screens is framed by five panels. Two contain weather info; three are banner ads. WRAL is selling the ads and splitting the revenue with the city.

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