http://www.intomobile.com/2008/05/03/analysis-mobile-tv-standards-problem-may-never-be-solved.html Cell Phone News, Information, and Analysis Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:46:44 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 http://www.intomobile.com/2008/05/03/analysis-mobile-tv-standards-problem-may-never-be-solved.html/comment-page-1/#comment-219236 Diana Jovin Fri, 16 May 2008 09:57:22 +0000 http://www.intomobile.com/2008/05/03/analysis-mobile-tv-standards-problem-may-never-be-solved.html#comment-219236 In-Stat's report also talks about the emergence of free-to-air mobile TV and in fact, predicts that the number of analog mobile TV viewers will exceed the number of digital mobile TV viewers in 2009. What's interesting from a business model perspective about offering free-to-air mobile TV (whether analog or digital) is that it allows operators to deliver solutions immediately to market without significant investment or risk as it leverages the existing TV broadcast ecosystem. From there operators can explore different revenue streams that can be developed on top of the free-to-air broadcast content. Some examples are 1) increased use of the data network, for example, through SMS; 2) targeted advertising and 3) up-sell to premium content. The latter, in fact, is the model that has worked well in traditional television business models, with consumers having free access to local channels and then subscribing to premium content through cable or satellite services. For existing subscription mobile TV services, it is questionable as to whether droves of consumers are going to pay for limited content and limited coverage, and without widespread adoption, subscriber fees will not cover the significant investment required to roll out new digital infrastructure. In-Stat’s report also talks about the emergence of free-to-air mobile TV and in fact, predicts that the number of analog mobile TV viewers will exceed the number of digital mobile TV viewers in 2009. What’s interesting from a business model perspective about offering free-to-air mobile TV (whether analog or digital) is that it allows operators to deliver solutions immediately to market without significant investment or risk as it leverages the existing TV broadcast ecosystem. From there operators can explore different revenue streams that can be developed on top of the free-to-air broadcast content. Some examples are 1) increased use of the data network, for example, through SMS; 2) targeted advertising and 3) up-sell to premium content. The latter, in fact, is the model that has worked well in traditional television business models, with consumers having free access to local channels and then subscribing to premium content through cable or satellite services. For existing subscription mobile TV services, it is questionable as to whether droves of consumers are going to pay for limited content and limited coverage, and without widespread adoption, subscriber fees will not cover the significant investment required to roll out new digital infrastructure.

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