Taking The Show On The Road: Introducing Mobile TV

Save to notebook Email article Print article More articles

By Mia Bolaris-Forget

If you think your family already watches too much television, brace yourself. At least NOW you can confine viewing of the tube to your home, but soon, what will be available is programming on the go.

That’s right, just like mobile phones; we’ll have access to mobile TV. And some folks already do.

Still some say that this traveling television does not measure up to the original. And they note, that it takes at least 20 seconds longer for a TV signal to reach the screen of a mobile phone than it does to get to a “regular” TV set. Yet, others proclaim, that, that’s precisely the point, noting that it’s not meant to “replace” standard television but to supplement it when a big screen simply isn’t around.

Advocates add that despite the size, the picture and the clarity are sharp and unexpectedly good. And it also offers a respectable variety of channels.

Mobile operators and broadcasters are relying on revenues from a flat-rate TV service or pay-per-view broadcast supported by soap opera junkies, and sports fanatics, who simply need their “fix”, even when out socializing or on the road.

Already companies like Nokia are testing 40 pilots nationwide, and trials by various other companies have experts expecting networks to go live within the year.

And, it’s no surprise that the innovators of this technology are in South Korea, where the (television) service on cell phones emerged as early as May 2005.

With that said, experts assert that this modern (broadcast) medium has left the Koreans wanting more. And, in January the country began terrestrial broadcasting of mobile TV services to handset replete with special technology, a service that is free, with broadcasters making money via advertising.

And, experts are expecting another key market to be the United States, where trials are currently underway, and where the commercial release of mobile television is slated for later this year.

Long Island Technology Articles > Taking The Show On The Road: Introducing Mobile TV