AT&T to Debut Mobile TV 'As Early As Possible' in 2008
AT&T said it plans to launch its long-planned live mobile TV service "as early as possible" in 2008, citing efforts to improve the user experience as the culprit behind the delay. AT&T told Multichannel News the MediaFLO-based service will launch with eight live, linear channels: CBS Mobile, Fox Mobile, NBC2Go, NBC News2Go, ESPN Mobile TV, MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon.
Neither pricing information nor an official brand for the service has yet been announced. Also unknown is the role of spectrum licenses totaling $2.5 billion acquired by AT&T in October from Aloha Partners, parent firm of DVB-H-based mobile broadcast TV service Hiwire.
AT&T and MediaFLO were expected to debut their mobile TV offering in the fourth quarter of 2007. "The testing of the software and hardware is going very, very well, but we decided to take just a little extra time to make sure the user experience is absolutely optimal," said AT&T executive director of media relations Mark Siegel.
Siegel confirmed that AT&T’s mobile TV service will carry the lineup of eight live, linear channels offered by MediaFLO, which are CBS Mobile, Fox Mobile, NBC2Go, NBC News2Go, ESPN Mobile TV, MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon.
AT&T will announce pricing information – and the name for the mobile TV service – when it launches next year, Siegel said. Verizon Wireless’ V CAST Mobile TV is available in different tiers for $13 to $25 per month in addition to regular phone-service charges.
Meanwhile, AT&T recently procured wireless spectrum holdings that it may use for mobile video services. In a $2.5 billion cash deal with Aloha Partners, AT&T picked up two 6-Megahertz channels in the 700-MHz band, covering 281 U.S. markets. [FierceMobileContent]
- Copyright © 2008-2011 ICT & Internet Business. All Rights Reserved. Powered by Blogger
- Back To Top
- Log in
- Blogger
- Home
Recent Comments-