Mobile Television – Will You Be Watching?
As Australians are probably aware from the copious amounts of advertising, Telstra is launching its Next G network, just in time for their third share offer – which I’m sure is all coincidence, of course!
Anyway, one of the services being offered is that of watching mobile television. Those on the network with enabled phones can subscribe to several different channels that air on Foxtel for a monthly fee. Mobile Television, or Cellevision as it is known in the US, is still emerging worldwide – in addition to programs being broadcast through 3G, with other possible technical specifications for the service being DVB-H, DMB, TDtv and TD-CDMA (Wikipedia).
So, the question is, will customers tune in to Mobile TV? The BBC released TARDISODES – mini-episodes of Doctor Who that gave back story to the episode that would air the following week. Only 40 000 people downloaded these episodes onto their mobiles, compared to the 2.6 million that downloaded the online equivalent. Considering the TARDISODES were free to download, except for any service provider fees, are these figures an indication that people aren’t really interested?
I personally know that Mobile Television does not appeal to me, and I don’t believe that it will take off in any big way. For starters, people like to be able to see what they are watching – it’s the reason that big-screen televisions are so coveted. While I know that mobile phone companies are developing flexible screens that can be expanded, anything that is large enough to make viewing worthwhile is going to be too cumbersome to serve the initial purpose of a mobile device.
Then there is the time involved. The whole concept of Mobile Television is that it is something that you engage in outside the home. While time spent on public transport can feel like the distance from here to the moon, in reality most commutes are relatively short. In addition, any time spent on a bus or train is usually done in a sardine imitation, where it would be an amazing feat to actually grasp your mobile phone and position it somewhere in the vicinity of your field of vision.
Finally, there is the issue of whether people actually want to watch television outside the home. When it comes down to it, I don’t have to be switched on all the time. If I don’t have access to a television set, then I can amuse myself by listening to music, reading a book, daydreaming or perhaps even interacting with people. Television is something I engage in when I want to relax after a long day. To me, it is synonymous with at home entertainment – there’s nothing better than curling up on the couch and watching my favourite show.
So, what are your thoughts? If you have watched Mobile TV, will you continue to utilise the service? If you haven’t, do you plan to? Do you think it will be successful as a medium?
*Image courtesy of Wikipedia, and used under Fair Dealing for identification
Anyway, one of the services being offered is that of watching mobile television. Those on the network with enabled phones can subscribe to several different channels that air on Foxtel for a monthly fee. Mobile Television, or Cellevision as it is known in the US, is still emerging worldwide – in addition to programs being broadcast through 3G, with other possible technical specifications for the service being DVB-H, DMB, TDtv and TD-CDMA (Wikipedia).
David Tennant of Doctor Who, which embraced Mobile Television with TARDISODES*
So, the question is, will customers tune in to Mobile TV? The BBC released TARDISODES – mini-episodes of Doctor Who that gave back story to the episode that would air the following week. Only 40 000 people downloaded these episodes onto their mobiles, compared to the 2.6 million that downloaded the online equivalent. Considering the TARDISODES were free to download, except for any service provider fees, are these figures an indication that people aren’t really interested?
I personally know that Mobile Television does not appeal to me, and I don’t believe that it will take off in any big way. For starters, people like to be able to see what they are watching – it’s the reason that big-screen televisions are so coveted. While I know that mobile phone companies are developing flexible screens that can be expanded, anything that is large enough to make viewing worthwhile is going to be too cumbersome to serve the initial purpose of a mobile device.
Then there is the time involved. The whole concept of Mobile Television is that it is something that you engage in outside the home. While time spent on public transport can feel like the distance from here to the moon, in reality most commutes are relatively short. In addition, any time spent on a bus or train is usually done in a sardine imitation, where it would be an amazing feat to actually grasp your mobile phone and position it somewhere in the vicinity of your field of vision.
Finally, there is the issue of whether people actually want to watch television outside the home. When it comes down to it, I don’t have to be switched on all the time. If I don’t have access to a television set, then I can amuse myself by listening to music, reading a book, daydreaming or perhaps even interacting with people. Television is something I engage in when I want to relax after a long day. To me, it is synonymous with at home entertainment – there’s nothing better than curling up on the couch and watching my favourite show.
So, what are your thoughts? If you have watched Mobile TV, will you continue to utilise the service? If you haven’t, do you plan to? Do you think it will be successful as a medium?
*Image courtesy of Wikipedia, and used under Fair Dealing for identification
Celebrity Obsession
I use my phone for making calls and sending messages. I can't imagine using it to watch tv. I'll watch my tv shows on my tv when I'm sitting comfortably on my couch!
Poker Addict
unless I was really really stuck somewhere for ages with nothing to do at all - then I might succumb.
hey Nina, your writing is excellent. You have great style.
See ya
IT Business Analysis
IT Business Analysis