UK Mobile video and TV take up low
QuickPlay Media has revealed the results of an independent survey focused on mobile TV and video consumption in the UK. The research found that there are several barriers preventing people from consuming TV and video content on their mobile phones, including a lack of awareness of the mobile TV and video services offered (44%) and cost (33%) – more highlights below:
- Nearly half of respondents (44%) do not know if their mobile operator even offers a mobile TV and video service and a third (33%) of those questioned cited cost as the main barrier for not accessing mobile TV
- Two-thirds (65%) of consumers said they are willing to watch an advertisement on their mobile phone in order to access free or discounted TV and video content
- 41% of consumers have already watched TV or videos on a mobile phone, with 18% of those consumers watching more than once a week
The demand for consumers to watch mobile TV is apparently there, with 65 percent of respondents stating that they are willing to spend time watching an advertisement if it meant that the mobile TV or video content they consume is free or discounted.
Quickplay, as a Mobile TV/video CMS and service delivery provider, clearly have a vested interest in the results of the survey - however, they do have a point. Whilst the infrastructure is now getting to the point of being able to carry these sorts of services, the charging plans (be it ad-subsidised or unlimited plans) are a little bit slower catching up. From the data above, people need these in place - along with a hefty dose of marketing it would appear!
If you want to read the full survey results you can go here.
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Orange brings mickey mouse to mobile tv
Orange has made a digital TV content deal with Disney-ABC International Television, which will allow Orange subscribers to watch Disney movies on Orange’s forthcoming digital TV service ipTV.
Under the multi-year video on-demand deal for digital TV and PC, Orange will be able to offer for rental video on demand movies from Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures and Miramax Films, such as Déjà Vu, Wild Hogs, and Venus.
Tim Pearson, director of ipTV Orange, said: ‘The Disney-ABC International Television deal is the first of a number of content deals we’re announcing and demonstrates we’re gearing up for our launch of digital TV later this year. We intend to offer our customers a great range of the best movies on demand for which this agreement with Disney is a great step.’
Virgin Mobile to dump mobile TV service
Virgin Mobile has decided to dump its broadcast mobile TV service after less than a year because of poor customer take-up.
The mobile phone operator’s partner on the project, BT, is ending its experiment with mobile TV and disbanding its BT Movio business that was supposed to take mobile TV into other countries. It has also cancelled its contract with GCap Media, the radio business that owned the spectrum over which the service runs. The service is likely to be switched off completely early next year.
Earlier this year the Guardian reported that less than 10,000 people had signed up.
The last nail in the coffin for VMTV was banged in by the European commission last week when it called for the region’s mobile phone operators to get behind a competing mobile TV technology which can offer many more channels than Virgin’s service.
Possible iphone killer ?
Dubbed the Chinese iPhone, we’re familiar with the form factor and touchscreen looks of Meizu’s miniOne. We know that Meizu will take out telephony, at least for the time being, and we’ve learned recently of the miniOne’s face-lift. I know it takes a lot of effort to get interested in the miniOne’s specs outside the superficial form factor, the need to be objective compels us to be give our attention.
the pricing will be from the $450-ish for the 16GB model , availability is still targeted around late 2007 or early 2008
