Belkin to help broadcasters deliver live TV to iPad, iPhone

TV viewers in more 32 local markets later this year will be able to watch live TV programming from stations carrying programming from Fox, NBC and other networks on Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) iPad or iPhone, under a deal Mobile Content Venture struck with Belkin International.

Belkin announced Monday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that it will manufacture a dongle that could be attached to mobile phones and tablet computers which will be able to receive signals from local broadcast stations. The company didn't say how much it will charge for accessories that will deliver live TV to mobile devices.

MCV, which is owned by Fox, NBC and 15 major broadcast groups, announced a similar deal with Samsung (OTC: SSNLF.PK) on Friday which will allow owners of Samsung mobile devices to watch live local broadcast channels. MCV plans to launch a mobile video service called Dyle. 

Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA), Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) and Cablevision (NYSE: CVC) are using apps for the iPhone and iPad to deliver live cable channels to cable subscribers who are within reach of WiFi transmitters within their homes. And Comcast struck a deal with Disney (NYSE: DIS) last week which will allow its subscribers to view programming from ESPN, Disney Channel and other Disney-owned networks through mobile apps both inside and outside the home. 

But most pay TV providers don't have deals with NBC, Fox and other programmers that would allow them to deliver live programming to subscribers using mobile devices outside their homes. The deals MCV has struck with Belkin and Samsung could create more competition for cable and satellite distributors when it comes to mobile video distribution.

For more:
- see the Belkin news release
- see Samsung's news release
- TV Newscheck has this story

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