The death of mobile TV

Posted May 5th 2008 1:11PM by Douglas McIntyre
Filed under: Launches, Consumer Experience, Apple Inc (AAPL), AT and T (T)

Mobile TV is just getting launched in some parts of Europe and the US. AT&T (NYSE: T) will kick off its new offering in the US later this week. According to The New York Times, "Mobile operators across Europe and the United States are investing in new broadcasting towers, mobile devices, and television programming and promotions, even though it is not yet clear that profit will follow."

Just how many devices are people going to use to view video? There is the TV, powered by the Unbox, cable, telecom fiber, AppleTV (NASDAQ: AAPL) and digital recording devices. TV users can also get satellite TV. All of this costs a lot. Are people going to add another $25 a month for broadcasts to their cellphones?

People just walking around town can use their iPods or iPhones.

The PC is now a good place to watch movies. On a typical airline flight or train ride dozens of people are plugged into their computers watching the Scottish defeat the English in Brave Heart.

Cell TV has two problems. It is late to the video device game meaning it faces huge competition. And who wants to watch movies or the news on a one-inch square screen? The battle scenes are very hard to make out.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com and writes the Ten Stocks Under $10 letter.

Tags: AAPL, iPhone, iPod, T

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

5-05-2008 @ 2:31PM

moonie said...

It's coming folks in the next few years you will be able to have a 6 inch tv strapped to your wrist , also you will be able to buy a foldout tv that stretches out to a 17 in viewable screen.,wireless of course

5-06-2008 @ 12:55AM

starwxrwx said...

Actually the biggest demand for mobile TV is for sports - the kind of thing you don't want to timeshift, because you want to know the score as it happens.

The biggest market for this is obviously men 18-35, who are well positioned to take it up as they don't tend to spend their disposable income on handbags and shoes!