Telecommunications giant MTN is finalising plans to launch its new Mobile TV service, which will give its Nigerian subscribers the ability to watch live TV from all Internet-capable devices.
The service is a bouquet of Mobile TV services that will allow subscribers to stream a range of both live TV channels and “made for Mobile” video streaming content on their data-enabled handsets and devices, a service that will be provided in conjunction with mobile TV platform and mobile TV content providers.
“There is going to be three bouquets for subscribers to choose from, depending on their budget,” said MTN Nigeria’s Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer, Larry Annetts. “Subscribers can subscribe to one or more Mobile TV bouquets, that has up to 20 TV channels providing a variety of content ranging from news to sport and entertainment.”
For subscribers to enjoy the service, they will have to activate their WAP browser on their mobile device, by either accessing the Mobile TV packages via the MTN Play Portal or by typing in the address of the MTN Mobile TV service of the mobile TV service of choice.
The service will provide target market designed, familiar/exclusive/popular/relevant bouquets from which the subscriber may choose from, and will give MTN customers a new “on-the-go” lifestyle experience, according to MTN.
The company assured its customers that there will be no significant device restrictions or additional device requirements for the customer to enjoy the MTN Mobile TV service.
The Mobile TV service is yet to be made commercial, though it its already active on its network.
Back in 2007, MTN launched another Mobile TV service that was to operate on the Digital Video Broadcasting for Handheld (DVB-H) platform. However, this was not a great success, as subscribers were required to acquire signal-compliant devices to access the service.
With a customer base of 43 million Nigerians, experts believe that the new Mobile TV service will pose a great competition to DStv mobile TV service, with the prices of MTN’s Mobile TV expected to be cheaper than the former.
