December 27, 2005
New era heralded for mobile TV
The next 12 months looks set to be the year mobile TV takes off, reports BBC news. Technology consultancy Strategy Analytics predicts that mobile firms will have about 50 million users of mobile TV by 2009, generating an estimated £3.5bn in revenue.
TV, unlike mobile web browsing, is an easy concept to sell to consumers, says Mark Selby at Nokia.
Content that feeds off existing shows or offer extra behind-the-scene video is likely to be widely available initially but eventually there will be bespoke made-for-mobile shows. "I can imagine an interactive quiz show just for mobile phones," said Peter Cowley, at Endemol. Sport is also going to be a huge area for mobile technology.
Operator 3 has begun experimenting with user-generated content, offering subscribers of its 3G TV service the chance to upload their own shows, with each download of a show earning the maker one pence.
TV "snacking" seems to be most popular at the moment. 36% are watching Orange 3G mobile TV service during lunch and other breaks; 18% while travelling to and from work, 12% while queuing or waiting for friends and 10% watched it at home.
Following a trial in Helsinki, 41% said they would be willing to purchase mobile TV services. Half thought that a monthly payment of around £7 was a reasonable pricing model.
Questions about money are not limited to consumers and rows over media rights have dominated discussions about how to roll out mobile TV services. Broadcasters such as Channel 4 have argued that they should have the right to show programmes for free, regardless of whether it is available via traditional TV sets, the internet or mobile. The BBC plans to make TV programmes available for free on the internet for up to seven days after they are broadcast
The other issue dominating the future of mobile TV is which technology will dominate. DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcasting - Handheld) technology looks like being the favourite, set to overshadow current TV services rolling out on 3G networks.
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