AT&T said it plans to launch its long-planned [1] live mobile TV service "as early as possible" in 2008, citing efforts to improve the user experience as the culprit behind the delay. AT&T told Multichannel News the MediaFLO-based service will launch with eight live, linear channels: CBS Mobile, Fox Mobile, NBC2Go, NBC News2Go, ESPN Mobile TV, MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon. Neither pricing information nor an official brand for the service has yet been announced. Also unknown is the role of spectrum licenses totaling $2.5 billion acquired [2] by AT&T in October from Aloha Partners, parent firm of DVB-H-based mobile broadcast TV service Hiwire.
AT&T and MediaFLO were expected to debut their mobile TV offering in the fourth quarter of 2007. "The testing of the software and hardware is going very, very well, but we decided to take just a little extra time to make sure the user experience is absolutely optimal," said AT&T executive director of media relations Mark Siegel.
For more on AT&T's mobile TV rollout:
- read this Multichannel News article [3]
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AT&T [4] plans mobile advertising push
AT&T [5] sets Smart Limits
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Links:
[1] http://www.fiercemobilecontent.com/story/att-mediaflo-announce-mobile-tv-deal/2007-02-13?utm_source=related&utm_medium=internal
[2] http://www.fiercemobilecontent.com/story/spectrum-sale-casts-doubt-hiwires-future/2007-10-09
[3] http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6513031.html?nid=3408
[4] http://lists.fiercemarkets.com/c.html?rtr=on&s=69l,wg8p,1fbv,abv,69au,3l2v,7uh1
[5] http://lists.fiercemarkets.com/c.html?rtr=on&s=69l,wg8p,1fbv,hiwq,1ke9,3l2v,7uh1
[6] http://lists.fiercemarkets.com/c.html?rtr=on&s=69l,wg8p,1fbv,36y2,hmyn,3l2v,7uh1