Category: New Media; BBC ONE
Date: 08.09.2006
Printable version
BBC ONE (London) is to head the line-up when Virgin Mobile launches the first broadcast mobile TV service in the UK on 1 October 2006.
As well as BBC ONE, which will be available on a trial basis for 12 months and will be provided free to consumers, Virgin Mobile TV will broadcast ITV1, Channel 4 and E4 as the initial channel line-up. Channel 4 will intially broadcast Channel 4 Short Cuts, its made-for-mobile TV channel.
The service, which is provided by BT's wholesale mobile broadcast entertainment service, BT Movio, will also receive DAB digital radio (with access to all the UK's digital radio stations including BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4, Five Live, Five Live Sports Extra, 6 Music, BBC7, Asian Network and 1Xtra); offer an interactive function (which will not initially include BBC ONE); and a seven-day electronic programme guide (EPG).
Virgin Mobile TV can be viewed on the Virgin Mobile Lobster 700 Mobile TV phone, which will be available from 1 October.
Richard Halton, the BBC's Controller of Business Strategy, said: "In the emerging world of media delivery, the BBC is delighted to have this opportunity to learn more about how viewers will consume digital audio and video content on mobile handsets on a trial basis."
The service is broadcast via the exisiting national commercial DAB digital radio network, which covers more than 85 per cent of the UK population.
PA2
