Mobile TV ?

Mobile TV ?
It is a hot topic, so do not wonder there are a lot of stories now. Through many announcements of planned mobile TV services and market researches, the current question is: Is there a market for mobile TV? Lest us start with recent market researches. In the US, RBC Capital Markets reported that 75% of respondents do not find any interest to watch mobile TV. The survey was launch among subscribers above 21 and the 21-29 segment only represent 15% of the sample. Another study found that only 13% of wireless customers were very interested in buying video service for their cell phones. Symmetrically, in Europe, 3UK was the first to stream TV to customers and the first to stream live sporting events. People have shown a huge appetite for all kinds of TV services, and 3UK has now some 24 mobile TV channels. A survey launched with Bouygues Telecom show that 98% are ready to pay up to €10 per month to watch mobile TV. Other pilots on broadcast (DVB-H) mobile TV services in Finland, the UK, Spain, France, have revealed clear consumer demand (76% in the UK, 68% in France, 55% in Spain). The most popular pricing model to emerge is a monthly subscription for a package of channels (about €10/mo in Finland, €7/mo in France, €5/mo in Spain). So, it not surprising that most European operators are launching as soon as possible such services. Among others, T-Mobile is very active, willing to cover next Soccer World cup in June in Germany.

ABI Research forecasts about 250m mobile TV customers by 2010 (vs 1m today) and a video services market worth $27bn. EMarketer forecasts that only 15m U.S. consumers will watch TV on mobile devices by 2009 while In-Stat puts the U.S. number at 22m.