USDTV (28.28%) Hearst-Argyle LIN Television Corp. McGraw-Hill Ventures Inc. News-USDTV Holdings Inc. Telcom DTV LLC(09/2005-2006) NexGen Telecom (9/2006-5/2007)
USDTV leased subchannel space from local TV stations for its subscription TV service. USDTV ended services in 2007.[4]
History
U.S. Digital Television was formed in June 2003[1] and launched its service as a test in Salt Lake City near the end of 2003. On March 16, 2004, 1000 subscribers signed up with no advertising. US Digital also launched into the Albuquerque, New Mexico, market. At that time, the company expected to enter the Las Vegas market next and an additional 30 markets by the end of the year.[2] In the fourth quarter 2004, fifth-generation chips and ATSC tuners would be supplied by LG for USDTV tuners and would be available.[5] At the time, USDTV was marketed as "The Low Cost Alternative to Cable".
In September 2005, Hearst-Argyle Television, McGraw-Hill Companies, News Corp.'s Fox Television Stations, LIN TV, and Morgan-Murphy Stations broadcasters invested $26 million in the company.[6][7][8] Steven Lindsley indicated that the investing broadcasting companies did not think that the service would be able to compete against the cable companies, thus withdrawing support from USDTV.[8]
On July 6, 2006, in Delaware Bankruptcy Court, the company filed for Chapter 7.[3] While USDTV filed for liquidation bankruptcy, the company continued to operate in its four markets while two other companies were interested in purchasing its assets to continue the service. Investors at bankruptcy were USDTV (28.28%), and those with 12.35% each: Hearst-Argyle (split between HATV Investments Inc. and Hearst Broadcasting), LIN Television Corp., McGraw-Hill Ventures Inc., News-USDTV Holdings Inc. and Telcom DTV LLC. The company was placed under the control of a trustee, Alfred Thomas Giuliano.[3]
In September 2006, NexGen Telecom, an original investor, purchased the assets of the company for a reported $1 million cash.[8][9] NexGen had a major loss in another investment in fourth quarter 2006 forcing them to curtail their ongoing investment in USDTV. When no new bridge funding could be found, US Digital ended services in March 2007.[9]
The company used extra bandwidth on digital television stations to send channels to subscribers who had a special set-top box digital tuner provided by the company and an attic- or roof-mounted antenna[2][4] which were available nationwide via Walmart and in the West by RC Willey furniture and electronics stores. The USDIGITAL brand boxes sold where the service was not available operated like an ordinary digital television tuner. Two technology companies, eWest and ServicePower, partnered to help clients install the equipment while self-installers would get two months free.[2]
