Mobile-Video Upstart Knows Cable
By Karen Brown -- Multichannel News, 4/24/2006 2:01:00 AM
Backed by a cadre of notable cable lions and a key satellite partner, new mobile-video player Hiwire is planning to take to the air, starting with a trial this fall in Las Vegas.
Hiwire will be the third such mobile-broadcast-video venture now in the works, along with Qualcomm Inc.-backed MediaFLO and Crown Castle International Corp.’s Modeo LLC -- another indication that the mobile-video market is gaining momentum.
A subsidiary of Aloha Partners LP, Hiwire plans to debut its service using Digital Video Broadcast-Handheld (DVB-H) transmission technology and major 700-megahertz spectrum licenses.
Hiwire is notable in part because of its cable connections. In addition to CEO Charles Townsend, former president of Colony Communications in Providence, R.I., Hiwire has investment funding from cable veterans including Continental Cablevision Inc. founder Amos Hostetter, former Prime Cable CEO Bob Hughes and former Daniels Cable Vision Inc. presidentJohn Saeman.
So far, Aloha has gathered more than $100 million to support the Hiwire video buildout, which is estimated to cost about $500 million. Townsend said the company will likely seek additional funding from existing investors, from network-technology partner SES Americom Inc. or via high-yield bonds, possibly using its spectrum as collateral.
Also yet to be determined is the exact channel lineup.
For more on Hiwire, please see Karen Brown’s story on page 12 of Monday’s issue of Multichannel News.
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