Mobile TV

Jason Ankeny — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:37:05 -0500

It's safe to say mobile television experienced serious growing pains throughout 2008. (Although to be fair, it could have been worse: No one actually aired Growing Pains on mobile TV this year.) The mobile broadcast platform showed occasional flashes of promise, tied mostly to live sporting events such as the Summer Olympics and golf's U.S. Open, but from an international perspective the medium is in serious trouble. This summer, the British Broadcasting Corporation admitted a free mobile TV trial available to subscribers of Orange, Vodafone, T-Mobile and 3UK attracted less than 600 viewers per day, and launched a public consultation to consider its next move. That same week, electronics giant Toshiba announced plans to shutter its Mobile Broadcasting Corporation subsidiary in March 2009, citing anemic consumer interest. MBC's MobaHo! service launched in Japan in 2004 and attracted only around 100,000 subscribers in four years' time; Toshiba originally forecast subscriber totals in excess of a million by the end of 2007.

In the meantime, the European Commission is poised to present a new document designed to galvanize mobile television adoption across the continent. In a recent interview, EU Information Society Commissioner Viviane Reding bemoaned operators' failure to fully capitalize on mobile broadcast opportunities like the Olympics and this summer's European Football Cup Championship. "The industry was not ready. It is as simple as that," Reding said. "I told them very clearly that the Olympic Games and the European Football Cup were an opportunity to launch this system, but they were not ready. It is an opportunity lost. Let's wait for the next one." Umm... what's the opposite of a ringing endorsement?

The Mobile Content Turkeys of 2008

Jason Ankeny — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:00:11 -0500

Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and with this time of year comes the opportunity to reflect on all the blessings in our lives. When I sit down for turkey dinner next week, I will feel grateful for many things. In particular, I will thank my lucky stars that I have not made a significant financial investment in mobile TV, that I did not develop a mobile game based on a really horrible Mike Myers comedy and that I possess the common sense to not shell out $1,000 for an incredibly lame iPhone application. Most of all, I am thankful for stuff to make fun of. So here they are: The Mobile Content Turkeys of 2008. Dig in. -Jason

The Mobile Content Turkeys of 2008:

Channel 4 closing mobile advertising unit

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:53:13 -0500

British public service broadcaster Channel 4 announced it will shutter its interactive and mobile advertising units. "Over the past 12 months we have seen a steep decline in demand for interactive TV advertising and it is with regret that we are closing this area of business," said a Channel 4 spokesman. Beginning Dec. 31, the broadcaster will no longer offer so-called "red-button" interactive ads and will also terminate ad sales around its mobile content efforts--at present, Channel 4 produces a 20-minute continuous loop of short-form television content for broadcast across the major U.K. mobile operators, presenting ad-supported clips and segments from series like Hollyoaks, Grand Designs and Supernanny. While Channel 4 will continue producing the mobile segment, it will no longer feature ads as of 2009. Media Week reports Channel 4 is nevertheless open to relaunching its mobile advertising efforts in the event of increased consumer demand for mobile content. The decision to close the interactive and mobile ad divisions is part of Channel 4's ongoing cost-cutting drive, targeted to trim £100 million ($156 million U.S.) over the next two years.

For more on the Channel 4 cuts:
- read this BrandRepublic article

Sprint to air live NFL Network game telecasts

Jason Ankeny — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:11:06 -0400

Sprint announced it will become the first U.S. mobile operator to offer live NFL game telecasts beginning Nov. 6 when cable's NFL Network broadcasts the first contest of its annual eight-game primetime schedule. Sprint will offer the NFL Network telecasts via its exclusive NFL Mobile Live application and on Sprint TV next week when the Denver Broncos visit the Cleveland Browns. The remaining schedule includes:

Nov. 13: New York Jets at New England
Nov. 20: Cincinnati at Pittsburgh
Nov. 27: Arizona at Philadelphia
Dec. 4: Oakland at San Diego
Dec. 11: New Orleans at Chicago
Dec. 18: Indianapolis at Jacksonville
Dec. 20: Baltimore at Dallas

Before the 2008-09 NFL season launched, Sprint announced the debut of NFL Mobile Live, an application promising subscribers wireless access to live radio broadcasts of all 2008 regular season games as well as all eight NFL Network matchups. Each time users access the NFL Mobile Live app, their favorite team's information will immediately appear onscreen, eliminating clicks by pushing the latest franchise updates and quick links to upcoming live broadcasts. In addition, NFL Mobile Live enables NFL.com fantasy owners to monitor the performance of every player in real time, delivering game and season cumulative stats, rankings, player profiles, photos and video highlights. The application also offers live access to non-game programming like NFL Total Access, NFL GameDay and NFL Playbook. NFL Mobile Live is included free as part of Sprint's Simply Everything flat-rate package--subscribers may also add Data Packs starting at $15 per month. According to Sprint, the NFL Mobile Live app set the company's single-day record for downloads on Sept. 7, the first Sunday of the NFL campaign.

Last season, Sprint began broadcasting red-zone drives and related game-changing moments from all NFL Network contests as well as a three-hour studio show streamed live on NFL.com and via Sprint. At that time, live coverage was limited to teams driving inside their opponents' 20-yard line, during scheduled time slots at the :15 and :45 marks and at other key moments. The operator also offered replays, in-game highlights and analysis, and a halftime show.

For more on Sprint's live NFL coverage:
- read this release

CEA launches mobile DTV standards group

Jason Ankeny — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:26:54 -0400

Trade organization the Consumer Electronics Association announced the creation of a new special interest group to address mobile digital broadcast technical standards. The CEA group will focus on A/153, the mobile/handheld addition to the Advanced Television Systems Committee's digital TV standards, which promises to enable U.S. stations to broadcast over mobile phones and other network-enabled portable media devices as well as receivers installed in moving vehicles. The CEA group said it plans to support the launch and growth of mobile digital TV in North America by fostering industry dialogue, educational programs and unified messaging in addition to promoting the development and implementation of technical standards and best practices documents. It also will meet with suppliers of technologies specified by the standard and arrange meetings with groups such as the Open Mobile Video Coalition, an association representing more than 800 U.S. TV stations in their efforts to accelerate the development and rollout of mobile DTV services.

For more on the CEA special interest group:
- read this release

Related articles:
OMVC completes mobile DTV trials
NAB: Fast-track mobile DTV standards adoption

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

Related articles:
MediaFLO USA to air golf's Ryder Cup live
MediaFLO USA kicks off 2008 college football season

Forecast: Mobile broadcast TV revenues just $2.7B by 2013

Jason Ankeny — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:53:11 -0400

While more than 330 million mobile subscribers worldwide will own broadcast TV-enabled handsets by 2013, fewer than 14 percent will sign up for premium mobile TV services according to a new forecast issued by market analysis firm Juniper Research. While forecasting annual worldwide end-user revenues of $2.7 billion by 2013, Juniper contends the development of handsets capable of receiving free-to-air analog and digital terrestrial TV signals will adversely impact the commercial prospects for dedicated mobile broadcast efforts.

"The development of terrestrial TV-capable receivers with comparatively low power consumption, and the availability of these receivers in mass market handsets, throws into question the business case for the deployment of a dedicated network in many markets," notes report author Dr. Windsor Holden in a prepared statement. "There will always be a market for some form of premium TV service on the mobile handset, and with broadcast TV in many markets likely to consist simply of the free-to-air terrestrial signals, the gap in the market is likely to be filled by streamed video-on-demand services over the 3G network."

Among other findings of the Juniper report, the U.S. will represent the largest single market for mobile broadcast TV services by 2013, edging out South Korea and China. MediaFLO services will likely launch in parts of Asia and across the U.K. by 2010, Juniper adds, anticipating streaming mobile TV service will enjoy greater adoption than originally expected, a growth the report credits to the reduction in anticipated deployment of dedicated mobile broadcast TV networks.

For more on the Juniper report:
- read this release

Related articles:
Mobile TV to grow at 60 percent CAGR thru 2010
Broadcasters make mobile TV moves

ABC joins MobiTV lineup

Jason Ankeny — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 08:52:34 -0400

Digital broadcast service provider MobiTV announced an agreement with ABC Television Group to add ABC Mobile to its channel lineup. ABC Mobile will feature full-length episodes of ABC primetime hits including Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, Samantha Who? and Ugly Betty alongside content from ABC Daytime, ABC Family and ABC News. Episodes will be available to MobiTV subscribers on AT&T Wireless and Sprint the day after their broadcast airing. MobiTV now boasts more than 40 channels from partners including NBC, ESPN and Discovery Networks.

For more on the MobiTV/ABC deal:
- read this release

Related articles:
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Nokia launches mobile TV channel

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 08:26:59 -0400

Handset giant Nokia is poised to debut Capsule N96, a new mobile TV channel promising exclusive entertainment and lifestyle programming for users of its N96 smartphone. Capsule N96--launching Oct. 1, timed to coincide with the U.K. debut of the N96 device--will limit all programming to a snack-sized 96 seconds, emphasizing subjects including fashion, gadgets, comedy, interior design and culture. Series include Pulse (an arts and entertainment showcase) and Power Pads (which features designer Ben de Lisi touring luxurious homes). New mobisodes of all series will be available for free weekly download through the end of November.

For more on Capsule N96:
- read this Brand Republic article

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Nokia to open mobile advertising labs
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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

Related articles:
MediaFLO USA kicks off 2008 college football season
ESPN, MediaFLO team for mobile X Games channel

MobiTV turns on Mobi4BIZ

Jason Ankeny — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 08:55:14 -0400

Mobile broadcast services provider MobiTV announced the launch of Mobi4BIZ, a video-centric application targeting prosumers and business professionals via vertically-customized products and services including live video, video-on-demand and real-time data. Mobi4BIZ--which will make its U.S. market debut via RIM's BlackBerry Bold device--will target professionals with content culled from partners like CNBC, Bloomberg, Fox Business and TheStreet.com, offering stock data, business news and related information, including company-specific VOD content. Users may also further customize the Mobi4BIZ experience to receive alerts and detailed financial data on their portfolio companies as well as personalized stock tickers and financial graphs, analysis and tools.

According to MobiTV, Mobi4BIZ heralds the introduction of mobile media services within specific user segments, noting the strategy could extend to niche programming catering to families and sports enthusiasts as well as verticals like education. "We're still offering something for everybody, but we've begun a development program to create a better combination of content and devices targeted to specific verticals," said MobiTV's senior vice president of product, programming and marketing Ray DeRenzo in an interview with FierceMobileContent. "An application becomes more relevant when it's hyper-personalized--now you can define the types of programming you wish to see."

Related articles:
MobiTV's change of pace
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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

Related articles:
U.S. Open tees off live on MediaFLO
ESPN, MediaFLO team for mobile X Games channel

Forecast: Mobile TV to grow at 60% CAGR thru 2010

Jason Ankeny — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 10:07:30 -0400

Global mobile TV subscribers are anticipated to increase at a compound annual growth rate of more than 60 percent during the period extending from 2007 to 2010, according to a new forecast issued by industry research firm RNCOS. The report anticipates that Western Europe will generate the majority of mobile TV revenues by 2010, followed by Asia-Pacific and North America--RNCOs also expects mobile ad spending to grow at more than 42 percent from 2008 to 2013, significantly bolstering operator income.

For more on the RNCOS forecast:
- read this release

Related articles:
Broadcasters make mobile TV moves
Forecast: Mobile TV subs to grow to 462M by 2012

ESPN inks multi-platform broadcast deal with SEC

Jason Ankeny — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:29:36 -0400

ESPN continues to bolster its multi-platform programming slate--a week after announcing a new digital rights agreement with Major League Baseball Advanced Media, the sports broadcasting giant inked a new 15-year agreement with the NCAA's venerable Southeastern Conference that will extend SEC college football and basketball to mobile devices. Per terms of the $2.25 billion agreement, which runs from 2009 to 2024, ESPN entities including ESPN Mobile TV will air more than 5,500 SEC events spotlighting perennial sports powerhouses including the University of Florida, the University of Georgia, the University of Kentucky and the University of Tennessee. ESPN notes that ESPN Mobile TV will simulcast live games originating via ESPN, ESPN2 and its other cable networks.

For more on the ESPN/SEC deal:
- read this release

Related articles:
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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 inks multi-platform digital deal with MLB

Jason Ankeny — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:19:13 -0400

Sports broadcasting giant ESPN announced a digital rights agreement with Major League Baseball Advanced Media that will extend the network's extensive baseball coverage to the mobile platform. According to ESPN, the new deal--which runs through 2013--includes rights for its mobile initiatives ESPN Mobile TV, ESPN Mobile Publishing and ESPN MVP as well as ESPN.com and ESPN360.com; the contract also covers portable media devices like the iPod and Zune, video game consoles, interactive television and other emerging platforms.

Most notably, ESPN Mobile TV may now simulcast all airings of Sunday Night Baseball, Monday Night Baseball and Wednesday Night Baseball in addition to the annual Home Run Derby and other special MLB events for which ESPN retains television rights. ESPN's mobile channels will also expand delivery of baseball video highlights, both as individual clips and as part of original programming.

ESPN adds that in June 2008, its mobile web traffic increased 23 percent year-over-year, no doubt thanks in large part to its coverage of golf's 2008 U.S. Open.

For more on the ESPN/MLBAM deal:
- read this release

Related articles:
Live NASCAR coverage races onto ESPN Mobile TV
ESPN, MediaFLO team for mobile X Games channel

Alca-Lu launches first BCAST mobile TV trial

Jason Ankeny — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:24:52 -0400

Vendor giant Alcatel-Lucent announced the launch of the first commercial trial spotlighting the Open Mobile Alliance's new BCAST Smartcard Profile mobile TV content protection standard, a SIM-based service protection solution that promises content providers the latitude to offer more flexible mobile TV subscription models incorporating services like pay-per-view, pay-per-time and recorded content. Singapore-based operator MobileOne and media firm MediaCorp are spearheading the DVB-H platform trial, which began earlier this month. The trial is based on Alca-Lu's Mobile Interactive TV solution. Samsung will supply handsets for the program, with Smartcard Profile-compliant SIM cards courtesy of Gemalto.

For more on the BCAST trial:
- read this release

Related article:
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Report: Few Americans consume news via mobile

Jason Ankeny — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:43:09 -0400

More than a third of U.S. smartphone users say they get news from these devices according to the Pew Research Center's Biennial News Consumption Survey, which notes that a majority of Americans still derive most of their news information from television despite the continued growth of digital resources. According to Pew Research, 15 percent of respondents reported owning smartphones, and 37 percent of them cited the device as their news source. In addition, nearly one in 10 owners of iPods or MP3 players said they watch or listen to news-oriented podcasts using these devices. Still, Pew Research concludes that the emergence of the mobile platform has had little impact on the general public's news consumption patterns--only 4 percent of total mobile phone subscribers report getting news from their device.

For more on Pew's news consumption survey:
- read this report

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Top Mobile Applications 2008

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:57:34 -0400

Top Mobile Applications Awards 2008

With consumers tightening their belts and hunkering down in the face of an imminent recession, the mobile industry finds itself at a crossroads. On the one hand, devices, multimedia services and user interfaces continue to improve--but on the other hand, wireless subscribers find themselves with little disposable income to allocate on luxuries such as mobile TV and music.

Growing evidence suggests that users desire a mobile experience that transcends passive entertainment, preferring instead practical, utility-based applications like mobile-optimized banking and travel planning. A recent usage and attitudes study conducted by mobile web domain registry dotMobi and digital agency AKQA cites growing consumer trust in the security of the mobile web, noting the volume of consumers demanding access to mobile banking and related m-commerce services. According to the dotMobi study, roughly 90 percent of respondents said they would be more likely to select an airline with mobile check-in over one that did not offer mobile services, while almost two-thirds of participants said they would consider purchasing theater tickets, take-out food and travel tickets on mobile.

FierceMobileContent's third annual Top Mobile Applications Awards reflect the changes sweeping across the industry they honor, heralding a new wave of practical, prosumer-oriented mobile services and tools that simplify and improve the day-to-day lives of a consumer segment in perpetual motion. The spotlight this time around falls on applications that exploit the possibilities implicit in a catch-all term like "smartphone"--these are intelligent applications for intelligent subscribers, with an emphasis on m-commerce, mobile social networking and location-based services.

What remains the same year in and year out is the process for determining the finalists: After evaluating hundreds of apps according to guidelines including technological innovation, revenue potential and competitive edge, we've come up with a diverse roster linked by their originality, practicality and personality. They are mobile applications that will survive and even thrive regardless of the economic turmoil ahead--necessities, not luxuries. -Jason

And the winners are...

Cellfire

CellSpin

CTA Bus Tracker

E*Trade Mobile Pro

MightyBackup

Movial Social Communicator

Remember the Milk

Skyfire

sniff

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