AT&T to Offer Eight Mobile TV Nets
Telco Cites Tweaks to 'User Experience' for Delay in Service Launch
By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 12/14/2007 6:19:00 AM
AT&T plans to launch its live mobile TV service “as early as possible” in 2008 with eight channels – supplied by ESPN, MTV Networks, NBC, CBS and Fox – and the telco said the delay in launching the service is the result of efforts to refine the user experience.
Originally AT&T expected to roll out the TV service, delivered through a deal with Qualcomm’s MediaFLO USA subsidiary, in the fourth quarter of this year.
AT&T executive director of media relations Mark Siegel said “the testing of the software and hardware is going very, very well, but we decided to take just a little extra time to make sure the user experience is absolutely optimal.” AT&T will launch the service “as early as possible next year,” he said.
Verizon Wireless, which is U.S.’s second-biggest mobile phone operator after AT&T, also has a deal with MediaFLO. Verizon Wireless began offering V CAST Mobile TV in March, and the service is now available in more than 45 markets.
Siegel confirmed that AT&T’s mobile TV service will carry the lineup of eight live, linear channels offered by MediaFLO, which are CBS Mobile, Fox Mobile, NBC2Go, NBC News2Go, ESPN Mobile TV, MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon.
AT&T will announce pricing information – and the name for the mobile TV service – when it launches next year, Siegel said. Verizon Wireless’ V CAST Mobile TV is available in different tiers for $13 to $25 per month in addition to regular phone-service charges.
Meanwhile, AT&T recently procured wireless spectrum holdings that it may use for mobile video services. In a $2.5 billion cash deal with Aloha Partners, AT&T picked up two 6-Megahertz channels in the 700-MHz band, covering 281 U.S. markets.
In addition, AT&T will participate in the Federal Communications Commission’s auction of valuable portions of the 700-MHz band, which are being made available by the government-mandated digital TV transition. That auction is slated to begin Jan. 24.
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