A TV in the Hand is Worth ...?

May 4, 2005 - source: BWCS

Satellite-based mobile TV services have gone into commercial operation in South Korea today, according to the Korean company TU Media Corp, a subsidiary of the country's largest mobile operator SK Telecom.

To access the new service customers are required to buy handsets equipped with the antenna and chips needed to receive the satellite signals. Once the consumers have the right phone, they will be able to watch real-time digital TV programmes broadcast by local satellite TV providers.

The main terrestrial TV companies in Korea have also announced plans to make their programmes available to mobile consumers next month. However, the signals for these will be relayed from traditional earth-bound masts rather than satellites.

TU Media, says it plans to increase the number of channels available to mobile users in the near future. Currently its service is limited to seven TV stations and 20 radio channels. Once the terrestrial channels are thrown into the mix, mobile consumers will be able to choose between 40 different TV channels on their handhelds.

According to recent analyst studies by 2010 there will be between 80 million and 130 mobile users regularly watching TV on their mobile handsets. Media and telecoms research conglomerate Informa recently predicted that within five years handset vendors would be selling 83 million TV-equipped mobile phones a year, compared to around 130,000 this year.