AT&T and RaySat Broadcasting today announced AT&T CruiseCast service, a satellite fed video entertainment service delivered to vehicles via tiny satellite antennas. The receiver plugs into any Rear Seat Entertainment (RSE) system LCD using standard RCA jack connectors. It’s currently an “aftermarket” item that can be purchased and installed from nearly 700 agents across the US.
AT&T CruiseCast will deliver family TV programming, which will include Disney Channel, Toon Disney, Discovery Kids, Animal Planet, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network Mobile, USA, COMEDY CENTRAL, MSNBC, CNN Mobile Live and CNBC. Twenty satellite radio music channels will also be available at the launch. The service has the ability to add channels to meet market demands. The service will be available from authorized installers and aftermarket-car retail outlets for $1,299 and a monthly subscription fee of $28.
Launched in the beginning of 2009, the RaySat T7 is currently the smallest in-motion satellite antenna on the market. The service will use capacity on Intelsat’s Galaxy 25 Ku-band commercial spacecraft, located at 93º W. It broadcasts 320×240, H.264 video at 500 Kbits/sec.
CruiseCast will face competition from cheaper, but more limited, in-vehicle services like Sirius’ Backseat TV. SIRIUS Backseat TV costs $470 — which includes the first year of service — when packaged with Chrysler Group’s Rear Seat Entertainment System and SIRIUS Satellite Radio. After the first year, it’s $6.99 per month in addition to a SIRIUS Satellite Radio subscription ($12.95 per month), totaling $19.94 per month.
In August, Chrysler and Mercedes cars will start carrying gear from Hughes Telematics that lets users call for roadside assistance and find out about bridge closures via Sirius XM’s network.
ICO Mobile Interactive Media (ICO mim) is a DVB-SH venture with Alcatel-Lucent that combines live mobile television with interactive navigation and nationwide two-way communications. ICO mim combines satellite-based service with terrestrial coverage in urban areas, for uninterrupted nationwide coverage. It’s is delivered through an in-vehicle modem and roof-mount antenna system.
DVB-SH (Digital Video Broadcast – Satellite Handheld) is an evolution of DVB-H and a mobile broadcast standard that can be used in any frequency spectrum below 3GHz, including UHF, L-Band and S-Band, in terrestrial only, satellite only, or in hybrid networks (like ICO’s).
TerreStar-1 is scheduled to launch on June 24th aboard the Ariane 5 heavy lift launch vehicle. TerreStar-1 will be the largest commercial satellite ever launched and is designed to provide integrated satellite and terrestrial mobile services using conventionally-sized dual mode handsets.
With an antenna almost 60 feet across and up to 500 dynamically-configurable spot beams, TerreStar-I will surpass current satellites in terms of signal sensitivity and number of spot beams. Mobile television has not been a highlighted feature of the new mobile satellite service. Land Mobile Radio for fire, police, and emergency workers has been their focus.
Terrestrial competition for mobile tv includes Qualcomm MediaFLO (on UHF channel 55) and ATSC MPH (carried as a subchannel on some local DTV stations). Range and reception is limited with terrestrial mobile television, however.
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