U.S. TV broadcasters will be ready to start transmitting signals for portable electronics like cell phones next year, the developers of the technology, LG Electronics Inc. and Harris Corp., said Sunday, according to The Associated Press.

The technology represents a "chance for broadcasters to challenge cell-phone carriers, who are trying to sew up the market for mobile TV with their own transmissions," in what is turning out to be an interesting battle for future mobile TV customers.

However, the MPH standard, which the TV broadcasters are pushing, faces intense competition in the U.S. from Qualcomm MediaFLO (used in Verizon Wireless's V CAST service) and DVB-H, which Nokia uses heavily in overseas markets. Analysts doubt that MPH will make much headway stateside.

Broadcasters Gear Up for Cell-Phone TV [AP]