Investor’s Business Daily today published an overview of mobile television in light of FLO TV’s expansion into new markets, as I wrote yesterday.
Anne Schelle, the executive director of the Open Mobile Video Coalition (OMVC) whose members are promoting the ATSC Mobile DTV standard, says in the article that mobile TV offered by Coalition members will be complementary to FLO TV. She says Mobile DTV will provide local programming in the United States while FLO will provide national programs.
The OMVC’s members, as I’ve discussed in numerous blog posts, will offer free (probably) advertiser-supported mobile TV utilizing the existing spectrum of traditional TV broadcasters. Investor’s Business Daily notes that some 70 TV stations will eventually broadcast Mobile DTV in 30 U.S. markets.
One of the big questions is whether U.S. cellular operators will offer Mobile DTV in conjunction with the subscription-based services they currently sell, such as FLO and MobiTV. “We’re talking to the carriers about partnerships,” Schelle says in the article.
My quotes
I’m quoted in the article, saying that, in essence, all the components have to come together to create a successful product — the right prices, devices and marketing. I also say it’s important to understand we’re in the early days of the evolution of mobile TV, and humans like watching television.
In other words, I told the reporter that when I evaluate any products, technologies and concepts, I look at the big picture (so to speak!). I ignore the actual technology and consider whether people really want to do what the technology offers now or possibly in the future.
The bottom line is people love to watch colorful images moving across a screen. So, eventually, mobile TV will succeed, despite today’s disappointing subscriber numbers.
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