Mobile TV Action Hotting Up; A Lot Of JVs In The Works

The Cellular phone TV market is beginning to witness a slew of potential joint ventures between DTH platforms, cellular service providers and technology enablers. Interestingly, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, TRAI Chairman Pradip Baijal mentioned that there is nothing to stop telecom operators from broadcasting live over cellular phones. The story quotes sources as saying, "Star TV is in the process of forming an alliance with NDF and Zee TV may form an alliance with a company called Conax. While Reliance Infocomm is set to form a tie-up with Dutch company Irdeto, Reliance Infocomm has even tested- technology from Qualcomm as well as Irdeto and they are happy with Irdeto's DVBS-2 technology.".So is it difficult to start mobile TV service? Legally, no. "A telecom operator, who wishes to broadcast live over cellular phones, has to register as a cable TV or broadband operator. Telecom operators already supply broadband and cable TV connections. So legally, there is nothing to stop them from broad casting live television over cellular phones. In fact, anticipating precisely such a development, we made a unified license recommendation in January 2005, besides the study paper on new generation networks," Baijal has said. So what does it take to start a cellphone TV service right away? Industry sources say, "It would take about Rs 100 crore to start a preliminary service in Mumbai. This would include augmenting existing cellular TV infrastructure with broadcast video capabilities."

New era heralded for mobile TV

While some have expressed doubts about whether people will want to watch TV on their mobiles, handset giant Nokia and leading independent TV producer Endemol are convinced it will be a winner.
Initial signs, both say, are that mobile TV will be a huge hit with consumers, a big money-spinner for content providers and mobile operators as well as a means of transforming TV as it currently exists.
The next 12 months looks set to be the year mobile TV takes off. While the buzz around it is similar to the hype for 3G services, there is much greater optimism that TV will live up to its promise.

Japan's TBS, Index in Internet TV joint venture

Tokyo Broadcasting System Inc. (TBS), Japan's third-biggest TV broadcaster, said on Monday it will form a joint venture with mobile content provider Index Corp. and others to air TV programs over the Internet.
The move, first reported by media last month, is the latest between Japan's Internet companies and TV broadcasters, many of which have become takeover targets as Internet firms seek to use advances in communications technology to deliver content via the Web.
TBS, Index and satellite TV broadcaster Sky Perfect Communications Inc. said they would form a joint venture in January and plan to air 2006 FIFA World Cup programs for which Index has broadcasting rights over the Internet and cellular phones.
The three firms would also ask other nationwide TV networks, including Japan's biggest broadcaster Fuji Television Network Inc., to participate in the joint venture, they said.

Times Square New Year's Eve Feeds Availabe to Cell Phones

New York City will offer a free, live satellite feed of New Year's Eve in Times Square to video providers, plus a package of B-roll footage available Dec. 29, with behind-the-scenes and making-of footage, writes Broadcasting Cable.