Is there a show on TV that you just can’t bear to miss? If you have a cell phone (and who doesn’t these days), you’re in luck: AT&T now joins Verizon as one of the cellular providers who offer mobile TV service to their subscribers. The new video service, which launched last week, is available on two phones and costs $15 per month for 10 channels.
AT&T Mobile TV nearly mirrors Verizon Wireless’ V Cast Mobile TV, which is not surprising since they are operated by the same company - Qualcomm Inc. AT&T already offers mobile video service called CV, which provides short clips and highlights on demand. The new TV service, Qualcomm’s MediaFLO, would differ in that it provides television shows in their entirety with enhanced picture quality. AT&T has just released the phones that are compatible with the new service: the LG Vu, a touch-screen style phone that retails for $299 (based on a two-year contract and a $100 mail-in rebate) and the Samsung Access, a more basic model that costs $100 less than the Vu. Additional compatible models are set to debut in the near future.
The service will initially be offered in 58 major markets. In addition to eight channels shared with Verizon, AT&T offers two more exclusive channels. The shared channels include: Comedy Central, ESPN Mobile, Fox Mobile, CBS Mobile, MTV, NBC 2Go, NBC News 2Go and Nickelodeon. Exclusive to AT&T are CNN Live and PIX, which streams movies from Sony Pictures. Qualcomm projects that this service will be popular with consumers, and they’ve even dropped a whooping $554 million for the right to use old broadcast channels in Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Philadelphia, allowing MediaFLO to offer more channels in those areas.
Still, analysts are skeptical about whether customers will want to shell out $15 for TV service on such a small screen. And, Verizon has been mum so far regarding just how many of their subscribers elected to pick up the V Cast service. Meanwhile, major TV stations have their own invention idea in the works – broadcasts specifically engineered for cell phones and other mobile devices. No subscription would be required for use, and the first gadgets and broadcasts could be available as early as next year. The way things are going, it seems that a late night at the office will never get in the way of your favorite show again.
AT&T Mobile TV is currently only available in select areas nationwide (mostly big cities). Individuals can check service availability using the AT&T Coverage Viewer.
