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Week ending November 10, 2007

CIRCOM - 2008...year of "mobile" revolution? – November 7, 2007

From Tonja Stojanac/CIRCOM Regional

In the vast majority of the European countries, it is now possible to get pictures on mobile phones (with UMTS mobile high flow), but the network is quickly overloaded and the quality of the reception is far from being optimal. More effective technologies are now being experimented with offers of higher quality for pictures and sound and also the possibility to switch quickly (in a few seconds) from one channel to another.

The DMB norm (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) is used in Japan and South-Korea. China works on its own norm (Chinese Multimedia Mobile Broadcasting), whereas the United States show a preference for MediaFlo.

The DVB-H norm (Digital Video Broadcasting on Handeld’s) is expanding in Europe. In July 2007, DVB-H was promoted to the European standard by the European commission which is trying to speed up the development of commercial mobile television throughout the 27 member states.

The "great leap forward" announced for 2006/2007 is still awaited. Only Italy has really had a commercial launch for mobile TV, but it is far from popular. Even though Europe was the leader with the UMTS norm, they are having some trouble in keeping up with the technology : consumers seem to be in no hurry to discover this new technology, which is still spreading over Asia. In Japan and South-Korea (world leaders for mobile TV), the daily average usage per person is one hour. European broadcasters and telco operators are far from expecting such enthusiasm.

Mobile TV in Europe is expected to really start in Europe with the Beijing Olympic Games and the European Football Championship: the “pocket TV” should progress from the experimental phase to a more commercial development. The pictures of these two great sport events are supposed to be the beginning of a commercial development and to render the use of this technology indispensable.

The “birth” of this new media (in the wake of the internet) will cause a revolution in our behaviours… and a lot of unsolved questions : which content ? which price ? which standard, which regulations?

With a few exceptions, European countries do not wish to lag behind and they want to benefit from the huge financial profits that will be generated by the mobile revolution : replacement of mobile phones, creation of new programmes, broadcasting rights…

But everything remains to be invented. Technology alone is not enough to bring about the mobile venture and “mobile TV” is still considered as a gadget. The challenge is not yet won, even if Italy has already taken the step and that some of its neighbours are starting to do the same.

Mobile TV already in broadcast

Italy : It is the very first European country to have launched in 2005 a commercial mobile TV with DVB-H. Run by the telco operator 3 Italia, it offers two channels specifically conceived by the operator for mobiles. Two other telco operators have followed : TIM which offers a "Best of " of Canal 5 and Italia 1 and Vodaphone which relays 9 Sky channels.

No precise count of the number of subscribers who are estimated at approximately 600 to 800,000. It is possible to subscribe on a daily basis, hence the difficulty to show an accurate account of regular customers. Italians are «mobile addicts " but nevertheless are partisans of a wait and see policy regarding the commercial development of mobile TV, considered more as a business, than a new media.

Public TV is totally absent from the DVB-H commercial offer whereas it is associated with TIM for the UMTS offer.

Mobile TV is also available with UMTS through different telco operators who offer most of the generalist and thematic channels. According to “La Repubblica” (July 2007), RAI could develop its future mobile TV with the DMB norm, reckoning namely that DVB-H did not develop fast enough in Italy.

Finland : It is the second European country to have started to broadcast mobile TV : after several years of tests, this service was launched end of June 2007 with DVB-H under the aegis of Digita (the Finnish subsidiary company of Télé Diffusion de France). Three TV channels were broadcast to start with, but due to problems of regulations of the broadcasting rights, it had to be stopped. Finland has now the network, the technology but no longer the content.

Broadcast ready to start

Germany : the launch of mobile TV in broadcast is announced for the first semester. The call for proposals to attribute the DVB-H licenses has just been launched. Twenty nine candidates applied; the public TV did not make an offer (why ask money for watching programmes that are otherwise free ?).

Mobile TV is otherwise available with UMTS with Vodafone and T-Mobile (Eurosport, Pro sieben, RTL, Sat 1, MTV, N-TV are part of the package with short programmes, news, movie trailers, musical spots). DMB experiment is also running (Regensburg and Munich). Mobiles Fernsehen Deutschland got the license and the network brings together 16 big urban areas.

Austria : ORF, Mobilkom and Hutchinson have launched an experiment with DVB-H last Spring in Vienna. Three channels were offered (ORF1/ORF2/ATV) plus a specific programme specially made for this test (Dritter ORF Kanal). Currently, only the 3 traditional channels are broadcast.

ORF is preparing a special programme for Spring 2008 : flash news, weather forecasts, mini series (5 minutes maximum) which are supposed to complete live broadcast of the 3 other channels. Austria, which assesses to a few minutes daily the time spent on watching mobile TV, counts on the European Football Championship to potentiate the commercial launch of this mobile TV whose reception will be limited, at first, to big urban areas.

France : Mobile TV has been available since 2005 with UMTS. The 3 telco operators (SFR, Bouygues, Orange) each offer several packages of generalist and thematic channels, public and private. Orange (belonging to the group France Telecom) offers very short and specific programmes and will soon, in association with France Television launch a new service called Rewind TV (programmes from the public TV channels -apart from news and films- will remain available during 7 days after their broadcast).

Several experimentations in DVB-H et T-DMB have taken place in 2006, of which one took place in the Underground in Paris.

During those experimentations, it was noted that the daily usage did not exceed 20 minutes, half of which took place at home.

There is a law now in France on the television of the future, this law has been promulgated in March 2007.

The CSA (Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel, the French regulatory agency) will launch within a few weeks a call for proposals to attribute Digital Terrestrial frequencies to the future (channel) candidates.

The norms, officially decided on, are DVB-H and DVB-SH.

The group Alcatel-Lucent is carrying out a research programme on DVB-SH (satellite).

Switzerland: Swisscom Broadcast has obtained in October 2007 a national concession for broadcast in DVB-H. Announced start is Spring 2008.The Euro 2008 will be broadcast on mobile TV. Swisscom Broadcast is supposed to serve 44% of the population by the end of next year (info Forum mobile TV).

UMTS mobile TV and broadcast experimentation

Belgium : Proximus and Mobistore (the telco operators) have been offering TV with UMTS for the last two years. This service (which offers only one channel, is not much used).

RTBF will carry out a test by the end of this year in DVB-H (with its own programmes) in the Brussels’ area.

RTBF has obtained from the government a DVB-H frequency that can host up to 8 channels. It is counting on a commercial development in 2008 and is preparing a specific content. Broadcasting in the French-speaking part of Belgium is entirely digitalized.

A mobile TV experiment was carried out in Flanders in 2006.

In Belgium, each regional government is the decision-maker. And the frequencies belong to each community.

Spain : Since 2005, mobile TV has been accessible through UMTS. Recently Telefonica offered 26 channels for 5 Euros per month. The DVB-H technology is announced for 2008 with Albertis Telecom. Vodaphone and Sogecable are also in the running. A decree is in preparation to authorize the launch of broadcasting TV on mobile.

Ireland : 4 telco operators (O2, Meteor, Vodafone, 3) offer on demand programmes with UMTS.

At the same time, RTE is now conducting an experiment of broadcast in DVB-H in the Dublin area. This test should end up with an extension of DVB-H reception over the whole territory within 12-18 months.

U.K.: Most of the telco operators offer TV with UMTS or DMB, with the possibility to watch the programmes live and to download videos. The slowness of the connections acts however as a brake upon the development of mobile TV, even if the BBC has recorded more than 2 million connections for last July alone.

A test in DVB-H was carried out a few years ago in Oxford by NTL and 02, with a package of channels, of which the BBC.

Croatia : Only one out of the 3 telco operators has taken place on the market of mobile TV: it offers Eurosport, RTL and CNN as well as news, music spots and videos in UMTS.

For the moment there isn’t much interest from the consumers, hence the caution of the telco operators who do not wish to finance specific programmes and/or rights.

DVB-H experiment is ongoing by 2 telco operators (a third one has obtained a license but nothing has started yet.

In Croatia, broadcast is only partially digitalized.

The telco operators for mobile TV are the decision-makers.

Hungary : the commercial launch of mobile TV is announced for 2008. An experiment has been running since last April by the telco operator T-mobile, in association with Antenna Hungaria with DVB-H : the test concerns 4 TV channels (M1, M2, Duna & Duna 2 Autonomia).

The public service is not associated.

UMTS only…

Portugal : The 3 telco operators offer TV with UMTS. The Portuguese public TV was the first one to offer a 24-hour service as early as in July 2006. It is possible to watch some programmes live but also to view a specific programme meant for mobiles, such as "Quinze ", a cultural magazine which has its proper anchorman.

For the moment, RTP looses money but it counts on a commercial development by the end of 2008.

Cyprus : One telco operator offers Euronews as well as different programmes from two private local channels. UMTS reception. This technology is not much developed and mobile TV remains rather confidential.

CYBC is very much interested by the development of mobile TV and hopes to be able to launch it by 2010 with DVB-H.

Telco operators for mobile TV are the decision-makers.

Sweden : SVT has been offering a video on demand service since 2005. There is a possibility to download programmes as well as written news. The 11 regional stations are ready for this service. Several experiments with DVB-H were run with Nokia in 2005 and 2006 in Stockholm.

Greece : Mobile TV is still in an experimental phase. Three telco operators (Vodaphone, Wind and Cosmote) offer TV with UMTS. Only the private channels offer programmes and none of them are specifically made for mobile TV.

Greece hopes a commercial development but no date has been set. It both depends on the telco operators and the TV channels.

Malta : Two telco operators for mobiles (a third one is in the running too) offer programmes from private channels with UMTS. No project is ongoing, nor Digital Terrestrial TV, as the island has the cable.

The government is the decision-maker.

Montenegro : Mobile TV is not yet developed, its costs are too high. Only one channel (private) has started this new way of broadcasting.

Serbia : Mobile TV has just only slowly started with UMTS. There has been an offer from one of the 3 telco operators (MTS) since November 2006 with 4 TV channels.

Slovenia: All the telco operators offer mobile TV with UMTS. The channels (public and private) offer programmes (VOD) and specific services on the web (available on wap on the mobiles). Only one channel (SLO1) is accessible live.

This service is expensive, consumers remain cautious, the country is not on the eve of a commercial development of mobile TV.

Czech Republic: preparation of a pilot for mobile TV (pocket TV) in 2006, for a commercial launch in 2007 in DVB-H. Operator : T-Mobile, Czech Republic.

Romania : Mobile TV in 3G is proposed by the main operators (Vodaphone and Orange) with streaming TV and possibility to download VOD.

The DVB-H norm is available but not used.

Not even dreaming about it…

Bosnia : Mobile TV is not on the agenda and no project is emerging for the moment : the country does not have a digitalisation programme and over 50% of the broadcast is still analogical.

The decision is with the telco operators and with the CRA (Communications Regulatory Agency).

Macedonia : No mobile TV. This technology is miles away from their present preoccupations.

Kidnapped RFE/RL Correspondent Released - November 4, 2007

from Martins Zvaners/RFE/RL

A Baghdad correspondent for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty missing for nearly two weeks was released by her captors. Jumana Al-Obaidi, age 29, works for RFE/RL's Arabic-language service, Radio Free Iraq.

RFE/RL President Jeff Gedmin said "all of us at RFE/RL are very relieved Jumana's ordeal is over." Gedmin added that "journalists like Jumana put their lives on the line every day. They are dedicated journalists, brave people, and Iraqi patriots. We are proud to know them."

Al-Obaidi was kidnapped from her car on October 22, while on her way to an interview at the Iraqi Environment Ministry. Her driver, a young man identified only as Abdullah, was shot and killed that morning and his body found dumped in the street. He was in his late twenties and recently married.

On behalf of RFE/RL, Gedmin thanked the authorities in Baghdad and media groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders for their support during the kidnapping ordeal.