The second biggest U.S. mobile phone provider–Verizon–has just launched a television service via their mobile phones (MobileTechNews). According to the MobileTechNews article, the television service has been created by Qualcomm Inc. unit MediaFlo, and has been made readily available to 20 U.S. Markets. Such a service is partly due to the fact that as phone calls are becoming increasingly cheaper, companies like Verizon must find a way to increase revenue. Does this mean that the service is just that, a mediocre outlet for mobile media? More importantly, can I catch my daily dose of the Food Network?
Let’s start with the first question.
Quality is obviously an issue with a service like this. Just for starters, the customer wants good sound and good picture. According to a Reuters article by Sinead Carew, Verizon’s new service promises that the picture quality will “be on par with home TV.” Verizon spokesman Jeff Nelson makes the claim that it will be twice as clear as Verizon’s current (mediocre) Vcast video service. This is going to have to be true considering that currently out of 232 million mobile phone subscriptions, only 7 million have Vcast (Carew). If the picture quality really is that good, it is quite possible that Verizon could see an increase in TV subscribers.
But back to what is really important! Can I watch my Food Network and how much will it cost me?
Basically, Verizon has offered two options. One: if a user currently pays the $5 charge for internet and $15 for Vcast, then the TV service (a.k.a. MediaFlo) will costs $25. Two: $35 if the user wants to pick and choose separately as opposed to a package. Adding eight “exclusive” channels will soon become available. Seems a bit pricy given that it is a live feed and there are not yet any Tivo-esque options that allow a user watch programs at different times.
To my dismay, the Food Network is not currently offered. The selection is small, with MTV, NBC, ESPN, FOX, Nickelodeon, and Comedy Central making up the choices. Given this is a new service, it will need time to grow–and grow I hope it does or else it might not be as big a success as Verizon hopes it to be.
The consumer wants to be entertained and have individualized/local content. If Verizon can appeal to the pop teeny-bopper market but at the same capture some niche audiences, then the content might not be too shabby. And once again there is a plug for the music industry. Labels can dedicate TV channels to the genres they promote and play enhanced music videos–both live concert footage and the theatrical produced blockbuster video (because we all know MTV isn’t doing this). A venture worth looking into by record companies.
If the content was so good that Verizon hooked me into it, then I would go for it and rejoice that at least one media company has got the right idea. Then again with lousy content, I and many others could just let it float right past us while en route to its own funeral. YOU see what will make or break MediaFlo–I just hope Verizon does.
MobileTechNews- Verizon Wireless kicks off mobile phone TV
http://www.mobiletechnews.com/info/2007/03/01/204604.html
Reuters- Verizon Wireless kicks off mobile phone TV By Sinead Carew
http://yahoo.reuters.com/news/articlehybrid.aspx?type=comktNews&storyID=urn:newsml:reuters.com:20070301:MTFH54349_2007-03-01_20-13-50_N01338504&pageNumber=0&imageid=&cap=&sz=13&WTModLoc=HybArt-C1-ArticlePage2
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