Could LG Electronics MPH technology for DTV deal another blow to newspapers?

I recently came across the local demonstration for LG’s MPH (Mobile Pedestrian Handheld) technology on a cell phone; the technology can deliver local digital TV (DTV) broadcasts while connected to your mobile phone, in-car display, personal handheld TV, or PC/laptop (via a USB dongle). At first glance, I said, “Oh, no. Not another little screen (device) to grab my attention.”

Like we don’t have enough of them already. I have one in the form of a portable GPS (I am now on my fourth brand and style across as many vehicles), one serving as a personal DVD player, a dashboard monitor in the car, and I guess you could consider my cell phone yet another. You could stretch this to include my laptop, too. And, I am considering moving to the new mini-notebook in an effort to reduce the size and weight of what I carry onboard an airplane. But, in the case of LG Electronics, it’s the technology (MPH in-band mobile DTV system), not the device. So, at some point, I may be able to use MPH across all of them.

With all these devices to distract us, I often wonder what’s happening to productivity. Where companies are concerned about online video on desktops via the Internet, they’ll now be faced with employees watching TV from the comfort of their handheld, or other device. And, if you think “smoke breaks” cost employers lost time, this could certainly burn a hole in the workday.

Once I got beyond the point of do we really need another device, I began to think of who would be impacted by this from a revenue perspective. One of our local television stations, WRAL, the local CBS affiliate, recently demonstrated MPH connected to a cell phone. As part of their cbc New Media Group, and News Over Wireless (NOW) division, the business opportunity comes down to broadcasting’s primary target; more “eyeballs”. This same group of people is aggressively delivering software applications to deliver “news over wireless” to your cell phone in your local television market. It’s all about advertising and another platform to deliver it.

As local television broadcasters thrive on delivering local news, what about newspapers? In Raleigh there is but one, The News & Observer (part of The McClatchy Company) – oh, how I miss the San Francisco/Bay Area newspapers. And, if it were not for my subscription to The Wall Street Journal, delivered at the same time, it would take me less than 15 minutes to read the newspaper in the morning. National news? Already read it online. Local news? Same thing; I picked it up from the local television Web site before the paper arrived. Favorite local journalists and reporters? Yep; I have a couple, and that’s what takes the 15 minutes; if it weren’t for them, I could do without the daily edition altogether. And, I certainly don’t need it for the ad sections; I can access all those flyers online, too.

What about newspapers delivering more local, community content? Good point; The News & Observer makes an effort to do just that. But, here again, television is entering into that space. WNCN, our local NBC affiliate, delivers localized news and content under the umbrella of MyNC.com. They begin at the County level, and get Citizen Journalism to deliver news at the street level. But, I think there will be some competition for them, too. As EveryBlock (“A news feed for your block”) grows their list of cities – the closest to me is Charlotte – they will encroach on all the traditional local content providers. I have kept in touch with my old neighborhood in Chicago through EveryBlock; it’s more curiosity than need, but demonstrates the reach.

So, I am left wondering; where is the future for newspapers and how will they survive? In our case, who reads the stock tables in the morning (IMHO - wasted space; serious investors are online)? Classifieds? Sorry, there is craigslist and others to choose from that are much better. A sense of community? No, I don't think so. That seems to be falling away to social networks – not to mention the business hit from social media marketing. More in-depth journalism? Well, the likes of Sony’s eReader and Amazon’s Kindle have a good chance to disrupt that notion (in the form of a delivery platform of newsprint vs. digital).

What do you think? Is LG’s MPH just another gadget? Are you a candidate for mobile, handheld TV? What will be the impact to business; not just in lost revenue across media competition, but in terms of employee productivity, too. Is this another “canary in the coal mine” that gives a warning to (the demise of) newspapers, as we know them today?