March 24, 2008

Mobile TV In Tough, Say Analysts

Despite the European Union throwing its complete support behind DVB-H, analysts say it won't be enough to ensure success for mobile TV. First of all, a lack of innovative business models won't bring back the viewers who are steadily flocking away from broadcast TV. Second of all, carriers also face the absence of a workable business model and viewers would be unwilling to pay the costs necessary just to cover the cost of content creation. The only ones who will really be able to profit from mainstream mobile TV is manufacturers such as Nokia because they actually provide the equipment, keeping their costs relatively low.

Currently mobile TV consists of nothing more than repackaged content straight from the same channels as that on your living room set. Analysts say that mobile will never succeed like this-content will have to be much more personalized and on-demand. If broadcast TV is ever so slowly moving the way of the deadpool from the comfort of your living room, it'll never succeed as a business model for those on the go. The challenges described so far are all reasonably easy to solve with a little brainstorming. The final challenge may be the one that a common DVB-H standard can't beat.

The EU will also have to reach a common spectrum for DVB-H use, as standard DVB-H will be useless if the spectrum available to transmit it isn't common as well. Interference at borders would be on consequence of uncommon spectrum use. And while the US has auctioned off blocks of open spectrum available as a result of the coming digital TV transition, Europe hasn't, meaning mobile TV will have to compete with other television formats just to gain the spectrum necessary to exist.

Via PC World