Dish Network mulling mobile TV launch?

Following its unexpected entrance and win in the Federal Communications Commission's recent 700Mhz spectrum auction, direct broadcast satellite TV operator Dish Network may be mulling the launch of a nationwide mobile TV service. Dish Network-owned Frontier Wireless successfully bid $712 million for licenses in the so-called "E" block, which spans 168 U.S. metropolitan markets. Because the spectrum does not allow for two-way communication services, analysts argue the acquisition positions the firm to introduce a broadcast service like mobile video. "We suspect Dish bid on E block spectrum to build a wireless video network, rather than a data or voice network," writes Citigroup Global analyst Jason Bazinet in a note to investors. "We were surprised Dish entered the auction and more surprised it emerged as a big winner." According to Bazinet, rolling out a nationwide mobile TV network could cost Dish between $3 billion and $5 billion. 

For more on Dish Network's mobile future:
- read this Financial Times article [1]

Related articles:
Forecast: Mobile TV [2] subs to grow to $462M by 2012
Ofcom confirms mobile TV [3] spectrum auction
Will the smallest screen [4] ever go big time?