Report: Making a Success of Mobile TV and Video: 3G MBMS versus DVB-H, DMB and MediaFLO

Authors:  Mark Heath and Alastair Brydon with Ross Pow (Analysys Research)

Publication date:  September 2005

“Mobile TV and video services have huge potential, but only if mobile operators find the correct business model. We define the right services, the optimum technology evolution and best partners for success.” Dr Alastair Brydon

Product overview

Recently there has been a proliferation of mobile TV and video trials and commercial services, with:

• diverse approaches to services, pricing and marketing
• new technology options
• growing involvement of players outside the mobile operator community, including broadcasters, content providers and content aggregators.

With mobile TV and video services attracting significant consumer attention and interest, we see substantial rewards for 3G operators that find the right business models, and big pitfalls for those that do not. For mobile TV and video, more than for any other mobile service, mistakes could be very expensive.

This report helps mobile operators and their partners implement winning business models, by defining the services that should be offered, the best technology path and the right partners.

Making a Success of Mobile TV and Video answers your key questions:

• What are the key ingredients of a compelling TV and video service for mobile users?
• How should services be promoted and priced?
• What are the real capacity limitations of 3G (and HSDPA) networks for TV and video?
• What service usage can be supported and exactly when will operators need to deploy additional broadcasting technology?
• What is the new 3G MBMS broadcasting technology? What will it bring, and how will it change the rules of the game?
• What will be the impact of dedicated networks for mobile TV and video broadcasting, including DVB-H, DMB and MediaFLO. Which are the likely winners?
• What partnerships will be critical to the success of mobile TV and video? What will be the role of pay-TV companies, broadcasters, mobile TV and video MVNOs and other third parties?