DMB-based broadcast mobile TV

DMB-based broadcast mobile TV business case not working properly

South Korea broadcasters began providing free mobile TV content to DMB-based mobile phones. If already-launched satellite DMB mobile TV attracted great success, based on fair split of the fee between the mobile operator (SKT) and the service provider (TU Media), the land-based DMB service is launched under bad conditions, with nothing for the mobile operator except the provision of the phone. In addition, mobile operators anticipate that land-based DMB mobile TV would likely cut into revenue from calls and wireless Internet services. So, mobile operators are reluctant to market handsets, while mobile vendors are pushing DMB-enhanced devices. Daewoo Securities forecast all new handsets will have DMB capabilities by the end of 2006. Samsung just unveiled its first nine DMB-based handsets. ETRI forecasts the service will have 1.5m subscribers by the end of next year, and more than 10m by 2010.