Reiter's Mobile TV Report

Sacramento Bee posts both Qik, digital recorder videos of Olympic torch bearers

From Bhaskar Roy’s excellent corporate weblog for Qik (the company he co-founded), I see that The Sacramento Bee has been using Qik to post camera phone videos to its Web site as well as traditional camcorder videos, based on an article in journalism.co.uk.

The newspaper used Qik to record the Olympic torch bearers in San Francisco, including the pro-Tibet/anti-China protesters (see below).

The videos on Qik (such as one below) may be embedded in other Web sites and weblogs, as is common with video sharing sites.  However, videos on The Sacramento Bee’s own video site, may not be embedded.  (At least, I don’t see a URL for embedding.)

I hope this is just a technological “problem,” but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s the result of the newspaper’s specific decision.  It doesn’t make sense not to allow embedding because it certainly provides publicity for The Bee, which isn’t particularly well known (at least outside of California and journalism circles).

<em>Bee</em>’s ramifications 

There are at least two extremely interesting aspects of the “Bee’s” actions: 

1.  The reporter attached his camera phone to his digital video recorder so he could shoot both the Qik streams quickly (no pun intended!) for posting videos and higher quality videos for posting afterwards.

2.  The Sacramento Bee is a newspaper that’s enhancing its Web site’s value with videos.  As a former full time journalist who does some freelance writing as well as being a full time wireless data consultant, I analyze how camera phones are helping to revolutionize the journalism business. 

The future of journalism is the “multimedia reporter” who will have to write the news, speak the news (with podcasts) and shoot the news (with videos).

Qik versus TV cameras

Non-video-oriented news organizations — newspapers, magazines, newsletters, radio stations — have to look at their businesses as “news,” which is not restricted to the way it’s presented.  Journalism.co.uk writes that The Sacramento Bee’s “reporters were able broadcast moving images as events unfolded — effectively replicating a live TV news service at a fraction of the cost and with the flexibility to move.”

Well, there is a difference in the quality of streaming cellular videos and using the resources of a television station.  There’s a reason TV stations purchase camera lenses for thousands of dollars (sometimes more than $10,000) and employ a “sound man” to ensure the audio is a good as possible. 

However, many print and radio news companies already are redesigning and revitalizing their methods to offer podcasts and videos, although shrinking profits is making the process extremely difficult.  (Update (4/20/08):  To learn about a national radio network that’s using videos, check out my PodCampDC article in my “Wireless Muse” weblog.)

Revolutionary, for cellular operators, too

I’ve been writing — and will continue to write — about the revolutionary aspects of live cellular video streaming.  And, it’s not just for news organizations.  The ramifications for society — with anyone being able to stream live videos — are significant.

Live cellular video streaming also will be a huge boon to cellular operators.  It will spark sales of flat monthly rate plans for unlimited use as consumers and businesses find new ways to take advantage of the technology.  However, the operators are leery of live streaming.

One reason is they would prefer subscribers purchase unlimited-use plans, and then not use them much!  The operators don’t want to invest in more cellular towers and backhaul infrastructure to accommodate dramatic increases in data usage — and many people streaming lots of videos certainly can increase data transmissions.

Another reason operators are leery is because they haven’t figured out (at least in the United States) how to make gobs of money from live streaming video.  As a result, they aren’t promoting it.  And, the operators do an absolutely awful job of educating subscribers about the many applications they offer, once consumers are roped into two-year contracts.

Good news

The good news, though, is regardless of the operators’ lethargy, cellular users — both kids and, increasingly, news organizations — are beginning to “get” this new technology.

Asian broadcasting association releases mobile TV report with ten keys to success

The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CSBAA) has released a “Mobile TV” report developed by a research group, Tomorrow, that lists ten keys to the success of mobile television, says the association's press release.  The key are:

1.   The network
2.   Ease of use
3.   The ecosystem
4.   Devices
5.   Coverage
6.   Revenue
7.   Regulation
8.   Content
9.   Advertising
10.  Lifestyle

I couldn’t find the entire report online, but thanks to an entry by IntoMobile, I found an article by Adoi Magazine that discusses in detail those ten points.  The report seems to hit many of the major issues surrounding mobile TV.  I wish I could read the entire report.

Network, ease of use, ecosystem

“The network” involves the necessity for providing sufficient bandwidth to enable subscribers to view video without the system crashing.

“Ease of use” is pretty much self-explanatory.  The article says, “Video that is hidden deep within pages of menus, requiring multiple clicks to access is not a compelling content experience.”

“The ecosystem” means also the players — network operators, content providers, handset manufacturers, etc. — must work together to create a robust business. 

“Apple combined attractively designed music and telecommunications devices (iPod/iPhone), with consistent middleware to allow users to manage their content assets (iTunes), with a universal delivery platform (Internet), and finally a large selection of well priced music and video content (negotiated deals with music labels and TV studios),” the article says.

Devices, revenue

“Devices” entail developing handsets that are easy to use, offer good battery life and are reasonably priced.  “Coverage” can make the difference for, as an example, a subscription-based service that offers mobile TV in train tunnels compared to a free service that does not.

“Revenue” generation is a complicated issue that includes flat rate pricing, that can be a problem for cellular operators who don’t have a mindset for this type of payment.  It’s also a problem for operators who have a significant number of prepaid customers and who have to modify their billing software.

In Malaysia, the subscription television company Astro All Asia Networks “discovered the problems that entails if the average top up is 15R, and your service costs 20R [Ringgit].  They devised an alternative billing strategy to avoid defaults.  Astro’s solution was to implement ‘bill chunking’, which levies 5R every week for 4 weeks rather than a single lump sum,” the article says. 

Regulation, advertising

“Regulation” involves not only making spectrum available for mobile TV but also developing rules for using the spectrum, such as whether the service should be paid or free, whether advertising may be incorporated, etc.  “Uncertainties about mobile broadcast licenses in the Philippines, and content provision in China are examples of factors that can slow the development of Mobile TV services.

“The commercial viability of the free T-DMB service in Korea, despite its advanced device and delivery platform, is also restricted by regulations on the placement of advertising,” Adoi Magazine writes.

“Advertising” is a “sleeping giant” that’s still very much in the early stages.  One problem is obtaining sufficient numbers of subscribers to make it attractive to advertisers.  George Schmidt, the CEO of Google, has said cellular ads should be twice as valuable as non-mobile ads.

Lifestyle

“Lifestyle” entails a mix of culture and geography.  For example, a city with skyscrapers can be difficult to cover with mobile TV signals, while a flat area with low buildings is much easier for radio waves to penetrate.  Also, some cultures spend a great deal of time using mass transportation while others use automobiles.

“Every city has a context — a pattern grid of existing media consumption and usage.  Understanding this provides insight into how quickly new services like Mobile TV will become embedded into the fabric of everyday life,” the article says.

The Internet wild card

The Internet is a “wild card” in the equation, especially as Asians born in the 1990s spend a huge amount of time on the Internet.  “In their world, there is no piece of content not easily available to them — anytime, anywhere or on any device they choose. 

“This new generation is unlikely to approach mobile TV with the same mindset as us.  Media is a fluid concept for them.  They talk about it, share it, and use it to represent who they are.”

The report has a four-minute video that summarizes the points.

My third "Thinkernet" column: The Serendipitous Broadcaster Revolution

CMP has posted my third “Thinkernet” column for its “Internet Evolution” Web site.  I’ve headlined it “The Serendipitous Broadcaster Revolution” (see below) about how anyone with the right cellular phone and software can almost instantly broadcast live streaming video.

 

My column discusses the Nokia Research Center/Reuters “mobile journalism toolkit” that Reuters has been testing to allow reporters to shoot videos (using ComVU’s “PocketCaster” software) and photos and write articles and transmit everything via a Nokia N95 five megapixel camera phone.  The toolkit also includes a Nokia Bluetooth keyboard, a Sony microphone and adapter for the phone, a Nokia tripod for the phone and Power Monkey chargers.

My core point is wireless enables anyone to transmit live video — without having to first save it and post — and that’s revolutionary.

Useful DVB-H information: Nokia's Mobile TV Forum newsletter

If you’re interested in the mobile television industry and don’t read Nokia’s Mobile TV Forum newsletter (see below), you might want to consider doing so.

Although the newsletter promotes the DVB-H protocol, it has lots of useful information about commercial launches, tests, products, etc.  The most recent issue, October, includes articles about DVB-H in Taiwan, a mobile TV roadmap for France, mobile TV awards at the Mipcom television conference and the Nokia Video Center offerings for Nseries cellular phone users.

(I’ve written about the Nokia Video Center service at Mobi-lize.)

No, I don’t have any affiliation with Nokia’s Mobile TV Forum or promote one mobile TV protocol over another.  It’s just worthwhile to read the newsletter.

Red Herring issues mobile TV report about market drivers, investment opportunities

Thanks to a tip from my technology consultant friend Jim Opfer of Launch Power I see that Red Herring has just issued a 110-page $2,900 research report about market drivers and investment opportunities in mobile television (see left).  "The primary drivers for the widespread adoption of mobile TV include the strong demand for existing TV content, the creation and availability of customized mobile content, interactive services and programming, new (fashionable) mobile TV devices, and the increasing global mobile phone penetration," Red Herring's Web site says.

Chris Bonnet, the managing director for Red Herring Research, says in the press release, "Mobile operators have identified it [mobile TV] as the most important area for investment over the next three to five years...."

I don't know if that's true, but if it is a lot of money is going to be thrown at mobile TV!

Placeshifting as disruptor

Red Herring says:

"In-Stat, a market research firm, projects there will be 102 million mobile TV broadcast subscribers worldwide by the end of 2010, up from 3.4 million in 2006, with much of the growth coming from India, China, Africa and Latin America.  Datamonitor, a market research firm, predicted there were approximately 4.4 million mobile broadcast TV subscribers at the end of 2006, expected to grow to 155.6 million by 2012.

"As a potential thorn in the sides of mobile carriers, placeshifting companies allow users to access their home TV through a mobile device from anywhere in the world, without incurring a monthly fee.

"The disruptive nature of placeshifting has the potential to follow closely on the heels of the disruptive impact on the music industry initiated by the introduction of the Apple IPOD, Napster, and other Internet music download sites.  ABI, a market research firm, expects the placeshifting market will grow from under $22 million in 2006 to $740 million by 2011.

"As the technology is in its infancy it is experiencing growing pains, and legal issues arise from the copyright usage of re-broadcasting material.  This has put large players in a bit of a quandary, as initial versions of this technology adapt to the legal framework.

"For wireless operators, placeshifting has a risk of disrupting their mobile TV content services business."

"Mobi-lize" Web site, newsletter focuses on mobile TV/mobile video

"Mobi-lize" -- a new Web site and free newsletter that focuses on mobile television and mobile videos (see above) -- has just soft-launched.  The inaugural edition of the Mobi-lize newsletter is slated to be e-mailed next week to a rather large number of potential readers.

I'm helping a bit to develop the product as well as write a few articles every month.  It looks like my article about iPhone's role in mobile TV and mobile videos on the home page is given a big play and I have been named the "hand set guru."

The conclusion of my article:

"For over-the-air live, streaming news broadcasts, sporting events and other TV programs, forget the iPhone for now.  These services would require HSDPA in any case.

"But as a mobile repository for a cornucopia of sideloaded multimedia content, the iPhone looks like a winner — assuming it performs as well and reliably as advertised!

Indeed, if large numbers of users are willing to carry (and pay for) a cellular phone with a large, relatively high-resolution screen, the iPhone could help revolutionize the cellular multimedia and Internet experience as handset manufacturers rush to introduce similar products."

Excellent articles

There are five other articles (that I had nothing to do with) and they really provide a lot of great information, such as broadcasters struggling over a variety of mobile TV platform choices (current and future), advertising on mobile TV programs and Actimagine's video codec and business plans.  In addition, the site includes mobile TV/mobile video-related videos, such as "mobile bootcamp" at iHollywood and a "fun little movie."

The editorial staff comprises wireless and broadcasting experts, and that's a major differentiator for writing good articles.  The company launching Mobi-lize, Access Intelligence (AI), publishes a wide variety of trade industry newsletters as well as offering numerous research reports.  (Those of you who are long-time wireless watchers might remember that A.I. sprung from Phillips Publishing that published numerous well known newsletters.)

A.I. has a lot of experience in broadcast publications.  The company's cable and studio groups are responsible for Mobi-lize.  Check out, for example, "Cable360.net" (see below) and "studiodaily.com."

A.I. also publishes telecommunications publications, reports and weblogs (that require registration -- a big boo for that) that may be viewed at TelecomWeb.

What do you think?

So, what do think of Mobi-lize?  What should be covered in the wireless TV/video space?  Drop me a line/comment.

What's on TV to provide listings, features for U.K. cellular customers

What's on TV (see below)-- a TV Guide-type magazine in the U.K. that has never published its content on the Web -- in September will provide television listings, feature articles, SMS program reminders and search capabilities for cellular subscribers via WAP, according to an article in DigitalBulletin.

DigitalBulletin reports What's on TV will include "content from shows like 'Lost' and 'The OC.'"  The article doesn't discuss whether "content" means text or videos.

While the programs and articles pictured in the cover above would make me want to smash all my television sets if lived in the U.K., it does get me thinking about existing TV publications and their potential business for mobile television.

TV Guide et al and mobile TV

Here in the United States, TV Guide offers a mobile edition for $29.99 per year (see left).  What's on TV charges 40 pence ($.76) per week for its paper magazine but won't charge for the mobile edition, although subscribers to 3 in the U.K. have to pay for off-portal access, DigitalBulletin reports.

What's on TV's WAP site generate income by selling mobile-related products, such as ringtones and wallpapers.

It seems to me that TV Guide, What's on TV and similar publications around the world have an opportunity to offer a variety of mobile TV-related products on the Web and via cellular.

For example, these publications could be an excellent source of information on the Web about mobile TV.  Frankly, I'd love to help them develop such information!

Business opportunities

Also, what about providing not just text for the cellular service but also video content, such as previews of upcoming shows, snippets of interviews with mobile TV performers, producers, etc.?

For example, you could click on a listing for the upcoming episode of "Lost" and watch a brief clip of the previous week's show.  You could read an interview with the director of the mobile TV "24" version and click on a link to watch a video interview of an actor on the show.

Yes, there are complicated issues with which to deal.  For example, you have to work with the rights-holders; some shows already offer recaps of past episodes on cellular.

The mobile TV business is still in the very early stages and the time is now to begin building related businesses.