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MediaFLO USA touts fall programming lineup

Jason Ankeny — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:33:43 -0400

Qualcomm's mobile broadcast unit MediaFLO USA announced its fall mobile TV lineup, promising new series from CBS, FOX, MTV Networks and NBC Universal. The MediaFLO service--available in the U.S. via AT&T and Verizon Wireless--will introduce new shows including NBC's My Own Worst Enemy, CBS's The Ex List and Fox's Hole in the Wall alongside returning network hits like CSI, 24, 30 Rock and The Hills. According to MediaFLO USA, many of the series will air simultaneously on FLO TV and traditional TV.

The MediaFLO USA press release also notes the addition of the new Fox sitcom Do Not Disturb... except the network unceremoniously canceled the freshman series after just three episodes. Not only was Do Not Disturb eviscerated by critics, but producers later mailed a note of apology to some writers, portions of which were reprinted in Variety: "We deserve all the criticism, the bad puns (i.e., 'an early checkout from the fall season,' 'Do Not Make in the First Place,' etc.) and, yes, even the accusation that it very well could be the final nail in the multicamera sitcom's coffin," the letter reads. No word on whether the inclusion of Do Not Disturb in the MediaFLO release was simply an oversight or if Fox instead plans to burn off remaining episodes on the mobile platform.

For more on the MediaFLO USA lineup:
- read this release

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MediaFLO USA to air golf's Ryder Cup live

Jason Ankeny — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:21:42 -0400

With mobile broadcasters still basking in the afterglow of the huge subscriber traffic driven by this summer's U.S. Open golf tournament, Qualcomm's mobile broadcast unit MediaFLO USA announced it will it air live coverage of this weekend's 37th Ryder Cup via the NBC Sports on NBC 2Go channel. This is the first-ever live mobile broadcast of the Ryder Cup, a biennial tournament that pits an all-star team of U.S. golfers against their European rivals--while perennial ratings bonanza Tiger Woods remains on the sidelines following knee surgery, this year's Ryder Cup still features golfers including Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia and Padraig Harrington. NBC Sports on NBC 2Go's coverage airs from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm ET on Saturday and from noon to 6:00 pm on Sunday across both AT&T Mobile TV and Verizon Wireless' V Cast Mobile TV.

For more on the Ryder Cup mobile coverage:
- read this release

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MediaFLO USA to expand to new handsets in Q4

Jason Ankeny — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:18:32 -0400

Qualcomm's mobile broadcast unit MediaFLO USA will expand to two new handsets during the fourth quarter, announced SVP of programming and advertising Jonathan Barzilay during his appearance at Tuesday's Mobile Entertainment Live! event. While Barzilay (click here for photo and bio) was unable to address specifics of the handset deals, he did confirm the MediaFLO mobile TV service--presently available in the U.S. via AT&T and Verizon Wireless--will be available across the country in February 2009, in tandem with the Congress-mandated switch from analog to digital broadcast television. (MediaFLO will use frequency spectrum 716-722 MHz, which was previously allocated to UHF TV channel 55.)

Expect more opportunistic programming efforts from MediaFLO, Barzilay said, citing the success of the network's recent broadcasts spotlighting the Summer Olympics and ESPN's X Games. "We're trying to figure out the holes and increase the number of brands we offer," Barzilay said, pointing to MediaFLO's recent decision to spin off cable channels CNBC, MSNBC and Fox News from the existing NBC and Fox mobile networks. "The mobile platform shines with live news and sports," Barzilay said. "It's a simple use case. Having the ability to tune in to a game or the Super Tuesday primaries is very compelling."

While Barzilay said he believes the current scope of MediaFLO's programming slate is properly sized for the mobile platform--"People get 200 channels at home and only watch 12 of them"--he said Qualcomm is presently exploring new methods to exploit 3G technology, which would offer MediaFLO the ability to feature on-demand content alongside its live streaming service. For now, however, MediaFLO USA's broadcast partners are increasingly high on the possibilities of mobile TV.

"We feel like the wind is at our backs with programmers," Barzilay said. "They're so excited to have a new field to play on, and to figure out things like what is the mobile equivalent of primetime. We're starting to see a lot of counter-programming on mobile--you see things like people putting [CBS' The Late Show with David Letterman] on against dramatic hours on other networks. They're trying to figure out the right windows."

MediaFLO USA kicks off 2008 college football season

Jason Ankeny — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 09:03:15 -0400

Qualcomm's MediaFLO USA mobile broadcast subsidiary announced it will air more than 200 hours of live college football programming throughout the 2008 NCAA season across its CBS Mobile, ESPN Mobile TV, FOX Sports and NBC 2Go channels. MediaFLO USA--available to AT&T and Verizon Wireless subscribers--said it will broadcast all six Notre Dame home games via NBC 2Go in addition to full-length tilts spotlighting the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 12 Conference, Big East Conference, Big Ten Conference, Conference USA, Mid-American Conference, Pacific-10 Conference, Southeastern Conference, Sun Belt Conference and Western Athletic Conference. In addition, MediaFLO will wrap the college season by airing 20 bowl games.

For more on MediaFLO USA's college gridiron schedule:
- read this release

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MediaFLO USA adds CNBC, MSNBC, Fox News

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 09:14:04 -0400

Qualcomm's mobile broadcast unit MediaFLO USA announced the launch of three additional 24/7 news channels in advance of this week's Democratic National Convention and next week's Republican National Convention. NBC Universal's cable channels CNBC and MSNBC, along with Fox News, will join the MediaFLO USA lineup in an effort to increase the volume of live breaking news and current affairs programming available to AT&T and Verizon Wireless mobile TV subscribers. The MediaFLO deal brings to mobile series including CNBC's Squawk Box and Mad Money with Jim Cramer, MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann and Hardball with Chris Matthews, and Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor with Bill O'Reilly and Hannity & Colmes.

For more on the new MediaFLO channels:
- read this release

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ESPN, MediaFLO team for mobile X Games channel

Jason Ankeny — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:27:36 -0400

ESPN announced an agreement with Qualcomm's mobile broadcast unit MediaFLO USA to deliver the sports media's giant's extreme sports showcase X Games to mobile viewers. ESPN and MediaFLO USA will launch a dedicated X Games mobile channel, dubbed EXPN, that will air 24/7 from July 16 through Aug. 8 on AT&T and Verizon Wireless; the broadcast will include a combined 31 hours of live X Games 14 coverage, including BMX Freestyle, Moto X, Skateboard and Rally Car Racing events. The EXPN channel will also feature "Best of the X Games" programming in the weeks before and after the event.

For more on EXPN:
- read this release

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AT&T Mobile TV serves live Wimbledon coverage

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:47:34 -0400

Qualcomm's MediaFLO USA mobile broadcast subsidiary announced an agreement with the ESPN Mobile TV and NBC Sports on NBC2Go networks to provide AT&T subscribers comprehensive live mobile coverage of tennis' Wimbledon tournament, the sport's oldest and most prestigious championship. AT&T Mobile TV subscribers will enjoy a combined 119 hours of live Wimbledon coverage from London's All England Lawn Tennis Club beginning today at 7 a.m. EDT and continuing through the men's finals and mixed doubles finals on July 6 at 9 a.m. EDT.

For more on AT&T Mobile TV's Wimbledon coverage:
- read this release

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U.S. Open tees off live via MediaFLO

Jason Ankeny — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 08:44:33 -0400

NBC Sports and ESPN announced an agreement with Qualcomm's MediaFLO USA mobile broadcast solutions unit to provide live coverage of all four days of the 2008 U.S. Open golf championship via the AT&T Mobile TV and Verizon Wireless' V Cast Mobile TV services. Beginning June 12 at 1:00 p.m. ET, ESPN and NBC Sports on NBC 2Go will supply MediaFLO USA with 30 hours of live coverage from Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, Calif.--the two broadcast networks will split coverage during the first two rounds, with NBC Sports on NBC2Go airing the final two rounds in their entirety.

For more on the MediaFLO U.S. Open coverage:
-read this release

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