• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, January 5, 2010

The group of broadcasters trying to speed the delivery of video to mobile devices is set to launch a test in the Washington market, with eight stations beaming content.

The collection of Washington stations is promising to offer up to 20 channels of mobile digital TV. Their owners include NBC Universal, Fox and Univision. All three programmers are part of the Open Mobile Video Coalition (OMVC), which is overseeing the pilot.

The test, slated for the first quarter, will look to gauge consumer interest in receiving local station programming on phones, netbooks and other devices. The OMVC has agreements with Dell (netbooks), LG Electronics (mobile digital TV sets) and Samsung (phones) to use their devices in the trial.

LG Electronics and Samsung will fund research to evaluate the pilot, while other companies Expway and Roundbox will help with audience measurement.

"The purpose of the trial is to understand factors that may motivate greater usage of mobile DTV ... [as well as] propensity to tolerate pay services, interactive services and usage patterns," OMVC stated.

OMVC expects mobile DTV to have particular resonance with Millennials ages 18 to 29. Its membership of local broadcasters hope that making their content available on the go will increase viewership among the elusive younger set.

"Television has grown beyond the HDTV that's tethered to the living-room wall. Consumers are mobile, and it's time for us to move with them," stated Gannett Broadcasting Division President Dave Lougee.

The OMVC has 29 members that operate more than 450 stations.