Bringing Mobile TV service to market

The DVB-H standard has by far the most widespread acceptance across the various sectors involved in bringing Mobile TV to market, including operators, broadcasters, broadcast network operators and content providers. This can be seen by the large number of consumer DVB-H trials that have, or are currently, taking place across the globe. In Europe , trials have so far taken place in Germany , Finland , the UK , Spain , Switzerland , France and the Netherlands . The results from completed trials are very encouraging. In the Finnish trial, over half (58%) thought that Mobile TV services would be popular and exactly half of those involved thought that €10 per month was a reasonable price to pay for such services. Local programmes available through Finnish national television proved to be the most popular content alongside sporting events such as the Monaco Grand Prix. Results which have just been released from the UK trial in Oxford paint an even brighter picture of consumer demand for Mobile TV. The trial, conducted by O2 and Arqiva and involving 400 consumers, found that 76% of those involved would take up mobile TV services within 12 months. 83% of triallists were satisfied with the service provided. On average, those that took part in the trial used Mobile TV twice a day and for 3 hours per week. Over the course of the next six months we expect to see the first commercial DVB-H Mobile TV services being launched globally. With Mobile TV over DVB-H we can truly say that this is the next big thing. Trials have shown the extent of consumer interest in these services which in turn brings the prospect of significant revenue opportunities for mobile operators. There are also a whole range of new interactive services made possible by Mobile TV. And for the broadcast industry, we have the opportunity to totally redefine prime time. People will be able to view their favourite television content anytime, anywhere, representing a fundamental shift in the way people consume television.

Source : wirtel.co.uk