[opendtv] Verizon Updates Mobile TV for LTE
- From: "Manfredi, Albert E" <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 17 Jun 2012 18:22:36 -0500
This article is almost 1 year old, so things might have changed some in the
interim.
Nevertheless, it seems to me that the wireless telcos are each working hard to
develop their own TV walled gardens. Even with the common LTE modulation they
are all migrating to, there's no apparent interest in unwalling any of this.
Also, it looks like each one is trying to figure out the proper mix of live and
on demand TV. I have to believe that customers are getting used to on demand,
and that with portable devices, they won't want to give that up.
So my guess is, what TV broadcasters want to do is to provide the live stream
portion of the cellco offerings, much like Qualcomm's MediaFLO a few years into
its tenure, for Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility. And my guess is, it would
be easier to convince the wireless telcos to go for this partnership, if the
service were transmitted as LTE broadcast/multicast, rather than ATSC/MH.
IMO, it becomes counterproductive to rationalize any of this as a must-have
change for technical reasons, including the bit about spectrum savings. The
tactics might work to convince Congress, or to get the trade journal scribes to
hype up the idea, but otherwise, it annoys.
Bert
-----------------------------------------
http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=211326
Verizon Updates Mobile TV for LTE
August 22, 2011
Sarah Reedy
Verizon Wireless revamped its mobile TV and video offerings on Monday with the
aptly named Verizon Video, an on-demand app for 4G and select 3G Android
smartphones. (See Verizon Video Hits its LTE Network.)
The service, powered by RealNetworks Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK), includes 250 current
TV shows, live streaming of sporting and news events, and on-demand video.
Interestingly, it will only work over the carrier's 3G or 4G Long Term
Evolution (LTE) network, not on Wi-Fi. (See Seeking 3G Alternatives for Mobile
TV.)
The service, an update to Verizon's V Cast Video app, will cost subscribers $10
per month or $3 for a 24-hour pass. A data plan is also required, however, so
users on tiered plans will likely bust past their data caps in no time. (See
Verizon Confirms the End of Unlimited and Verizon Sheds a Tier for Unlimited
Data.)
Verizon also has a deal in place with Sling Media Inc. to offer subscription TV
to LTE smartphone owners wanting to view their FiOS lineup on the go. (See CES
2011: Verizon to Sling Video to LTE Phones and Sling, Verizon Combine 4G & TV.)
Mobile TV and video are two of the apps that stand to benefit the most from
carriers' 4G networks. In announcing the service, Verizon touted the quality of
the video over the LTE network. On the flip side, mobile video, and especially
TV, will need the 4G network to really take off. The market has had a number of
false starts, owing to quality issues, price and content available. (See CES
2011: Mobile DTV Ready for Prime Time?, Mobile TV Meandered at The Cable Show
and CTIA 2010: Mobile TV Vendors Learn From FLO TV.)
Verizon's biggest competitors in the U.S. also have their own mobile TV and
video offerings that they're hoping will get new life on 4G. Here's the latest:
AT&T U-Verse Mobile
AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T)'s mobile TV ambitions originally relied on Qualcomm Inc.
(Nasdaq: QCOM)'s FLO TV service, which never really gained traction with its
subscribers. Qualcomm pulled the plug on the consumer version of the monthly
subscription service last year, and AT&T discontinued shortly after. (See FLO
TV: A Failure to Entertain and FLO TV Alive, But Not Well.)
Instead, it's promoting its much more popular mobile TV play that mirrors its
U-Verse lineup. The U-Verse mobile app lets users browse their home program
guides, record shows from their smartphones and watch a growing list of TV
shows. (See Pay TV Reaches the Mobile Masses and 2010 Top Ten: Carrier Apps.)
Sprint TV
Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S)'s had the luxury of touting its 4G WiMax-powered
mobile TV service long before its competitors began their LTE journeys. The
carrier offers a branded Sprint TV service that includes live broadcasts,
mobile-specific programming and on-demand TV. (See Sprint Touts Cheap Mobile TV
on WiMax & 3G .)
A Sprint spokesman points out that several of its OEM partners offer their own
multimedia video services as well, including Samsung Corp. 's Media Hub and
High Tech Computer Corp. (HTC) (Taiwan: 2498) Watch.
T-Mobile Mobile TV Prime
T-Mobile USA 's services may become a moot point if AT&T's acquisition of the
company goes through, but until then, it offers a number of TV and video
services. MobiTV Inc. powers its Mobile TV Prime, offered free for the first 30
days followed by a $12.99 monthly subscription. Movie watching is also
supported, although not marketed under a T-Mobile-branded service, on most of
its smartphones.
- Sarah Reedy, Senior Reporter, Light Reading Mobile
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways:
- Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at
FreeLists.org
- By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word
unsubscribe in the subject line.
Other related posts: