Discovery premieres dedicated FLO TV mobile channel

Discovery Communications launched the new Discovery Mobile Channel via Qualcomm's (NASDAQ:QCOM) FLO TV mobile broadcast network, touting full-length episodes of cable favorites like Cash Cab, Deadliest Catch, Dirty Jobs and Man vs. Wild. The new FLO TV channel also will spotlight series from Discovery Communications networks like Animal Planet (e.g., River Monsters and Whale Wars) and the Science Channel (How It's Made and Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman)--later this year, Discovery Mobile Channel will introduce video-on-demand features. Discovery Mobile Channel will celebrate its premiere by offering 24/7 coverage of Discovery's annual Shark Week promotion, airing Aug. 1 through Aug.7--according to FLO TV, Shark Week was its most popular entertainment special event channel last year.  

The Discovery Mobile Channel launch follows in the wake of Qualcomm chairman and CEO Paul Jacobs confirming the company is in negotiations to divest the FLO TV unit. Speaking on an investor conference call last week, Jacobs said the company is exploring "a number of alternatives" for FLO TV, including discussions with prospective partners. "It will get done in the next year but I don't think I can be much more specific than that," Jacobs said. "A lot of interesting discussions. It's early days."

Qualcomm first indicated its interest in unloading FLO TV earlier this month during the company's Uplinq 2010 developer conference in San Diego. At that time, Jacobs explained it was never Qualcomm's intention to become the service provider operating FLO TV, which delivers mobile TV programming to operators like Verizon Wireless and AT&T. He also reiterated previous comments that it is likely the FLO solution will expand beyond its broadcasting focus into a more general data delivery platform for connected devices.

For more on Discovery Mobile Channel:
- read this release

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