Mobile TV Has Consumer Demand, but Faces Business Obstacles

By emeadows
October 2, 2012

The allure of mobile TV is there. People want the ability to stream live network programming on their handheld devices. But “delivering that content in ways that don’t abrogate rights agreements and can somehow be monetized has proven mercurial,” writes Variety.
But it may be time for the field to evolve.
“The initiative got a big push recently with the commercial launch of Mobile TV, a Web and mobile service that lets viewers watch live programming from ABC, CBS and NBC, as well as 25 cable channels including CNN, ESPN, MTV, USA and AMC,” notes the article.
A competing service called Dyle Mobile TV runs on a partnership including Fox, NBC, Cox Media Group, E.W. Scripps Co and others.
Aereo is another mobile TV service. But it’s run into a series of legal challenges already. “In July, Aereo scored a key victory when a federal judge refused to block the service at the request of NBC, ABC, CBS, PBS, Fox and other content providers. The decision is being appealed,” reports Variety.
Mobile TV likely still has a long way to go. “Cable and satellite companies are still largely opposed to mobile TV broadcasts, as they circumvent traditional outlets among a growing segment of the population. These traditional distributors — mostly cable and satellite companies — remain largely opposed to mobile TV broadcasts, which they feel can carve away a growing, younger, segment of the population.”

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