PC Magazine has published a fairly detailed review of mobile television in the United States. Sprint TV is given its “Editor’s Choice” award, although all the mobile TV services are still in their infancy, the article says.
PC Magazine says:
“…Sprint TV, works like a little like (note: yes PC Mag needed to correct that phrase!) a cable TV system (though with a very different selection of content than you get on TV). For $15 to $25 per month, you get a base set of live streaming TV channels — basic cable.
“You can then add on a bewildering range of live streaming video, video clips, and radio channels for between $4 to $6 a piece. The array of choices is what makes Sprint special — they really do offer something for everyone.”
“Verizon V CAST Video goes in the opposite direction. It has no live TV channels, and a much thinner selection of content than Sprint overall.
[My take: Live TV will play an important role in the mobile TV business. I watch ABC News Live, Fox News, Bloomberg, C-SPAN and C-SPAN2 via Sprint. The ability to watch live news is a major reason to subscribe to Sprint’s service. (Note: As a wireless data consultant I get to test many services for free, and I like Sprint’s the best, in large part because of the live news programs.)]
“But it charges one flat $15 per month fee for almost everything. This gets you a little bit of news, some sports, some weather, some kids' programming, and some network TV teasers.
“The service is basically less choice for less money, trying to serve a very broad spectrum of tastes. If Sprint is cable, think of Verizon as broadcast TV.
Cingular and Amp'd remix those two formulas. Cingular Video has a Verizon-like deck of clips with exclusive content from HBO (though the HBO content is unsatisfying).
“The clips are smooth and clear, but only available on two phones, which can only be bought in a few cities. This will change, however, as Cingular builds out its 3G UMTS network by Christmas.
“Amp'd mixes together clips and live channels targeted to its young, male audience. The content selection hits the spot, but it's poorly organized and difficult to navigate.”
Three major problems
The article notes three major problems with today’s mobile TV:
1. Poor quality transmission, ranging from small pictures to rebuffering.
My take: I agree. However, some phones offer significantly larger screens, such as the Treo 700p (that I’m champing at the bit to test), that make TV watching dramatically better than viewing on a small LCD.
Also, cellular networks are getting faster, such as Cingular rolling out HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access), and Verizon and Sprint expected to begin offering the faster CDMA 1xEV-DO Revision A (the current offering is Revision 0).
2. Difficult to find what you want. “No service offers a program guide or any way to figure out which clips are available other than drilling down into dozens of different, little menu options.”
My take: I completely agree. Every cellular operator should have detailed listings on its Web site of all the available mobile TV programs. These listings also should include preview clips.
I believe there’s a need for a “Mobile TV Guide” that’s published on a regular basis. There are scores and scores of programs available to U.S. subscribers. Anyone want to hire me to write it? I’m serious; there’s a business opportunity for mobile TV information to consumers as well as, of course, the industry.
3. The content isn’t quite up to snuff, according to the article. PC Magazine notes that there’s much “weird, off-brand comedy” and lack of good music videos.
“To some extent, the news and viral-video channels are the best — which isn't surprising if you realize that those are the least complicated content when it comes to who's being paid,” the article says.
My take: I agree with the third point, too, but I’m finding that more content is being offered on a fairly regular basis. The World Cup certainly is stimulating a huge development of mobile TV information, as you may find by searching Google.
Informa Telecoms & Media, for example, says the World Cup with generate some $300 million in wireless revenues, as this BBC News article about mobile TV reports.
PC Mag sort of likes it
Although mobile TV is still “a curiosity,” PC Magazine is relatively positive about it and is most bullish on Sprint’s offerings, followed by Verizon’s and Amp’d. The article isn’t high on Cingular’s mobile TV services.
The article concludes: “While mobile video isn't yet good enough to truly earn the title of ‘TV on your phone,’ it can be a fun way to banish a little boredom in your day.”
I watch all sorts of mobile television and I like it a lot. Stay tuned in this weblog for much more information about mobile TV programs as well as many other aspects.
