BT Announces Partners For Mobile TV Service

BT has named BBC1, ITV1 Channel 4 and E4 as partners for its TV to mobile service BT Movio, which launches next month.

The service is broadcast using the digital audio broadcasting (DAB) network and is navigated through the world’s first implementation of a DAB delivered EPG on a mobile TV phone.

Virgin Mobile will be the first operator to offer BT Movio in the UK, having partnered BT in a pilot for the service. Virgin will begin offering the service on October 1, to customers on monthly contracts of £25 or more and who purchase a phone made by HTC.

In April, Virgin merged with NTL to create the country’s first quadruple-play broadcaster, offering TV, broadband, fixed line and mobile telephony (see NTL Confirms £962m Virgin Mobile Takeover). As part of the deal, NTL signed a 30 year licencing agreement to “harness” the power of Virgin’s well known brand, which will eventually see Virgin replace NTL’s own branding.

On Monday ITV announced that it would begin streaming live on mobile phones, in a deal signed with mobile network 3 (see ITV Launches Live Broadcasts On 3 Network).

Alan Gow, managing director of Virgin Mobile, said: “The launch of Virgin Mobile’s ‘Tellyphone’ is a real watershed, both in terms of mobile devices and the evolution of broadcasting. Virgin Mobile finally delivers what others have been promising for so long – real TV broadcast to your mobile, delivering the programmes you want to watch, when you want to watch them, in a simple and easy-to-use experience.

“We are hugely proud of the Virgin Mobile TV service and I think it could revolutionise how, when and where people choose to watch TV.”

Emma Lloyd, managing director, BT Movio, said: “BT Movio looks forward to working with Virgin Mobile as our first customer. We fully anticipate that their well-known marketing flare will attract many UK consumers to the service, which will offer the strongest TV and digital radio content for mobile phones yet to be seen in the UK.”

Channel 4 is the only channel which will not be simulcast on BT Movio, instead offering shows in a made for mobile format. In addition, depending on where users live in the UK, there will also be 30 to 40 radio stations available via the service.

BT: 0207 469 2337 www.btplc.com