Samsung, LG eyes patent profit from mobile TVs
By Kim Yoo-chul Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are expecting huge intellectual property income as mobile televisions gain popularity in the United States and other major markets, industry sources said Sunday. The two, which are the world’s leading providers of flat-screen televisions, already have a wealth of key patents across broadcasting platforms for mobile televisions. The technologies are aimed at enabling television stations and telecommunications companies to beam digital content to devices such as smartphones, touch-screen tablets and other portable devices. The patents will allow the companies to reap ``millions of dollars” in royalties, according to sources. The rapid growth of Web-based video services Hulu and Netflix is expected to accelerate the transition toward mobile televisions. Samsung already has an agreement with U.S. mobile-phone carrier MetroPCS to release a television-enabled smartphone, dubbed Galaxy TV, which supports the Advanced Televisions Systems Committee Mobile Handheld (ATSC-M/H) standards. ATSC-M/H has been the American