Cell phone video -- the future of television?

[Tom_Desmond]

Apparently a fair number of folks think that the future of television can be found in people watching (and paying for) mobile television content on their 1.5" cell phone screens. Broadcasting & Cable magazine had several articles on it this week, including one that can be found here:
<http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6260415.html?display=Feature&referral=SUPP>

One quote that I found particularly interesting in this article was this one:

> By 2015, however, the numbers could be more substantial, with customers
> paying cellphone carriers $12 billion for content and generating an
> additional $6 billion in ad revenue, according to Sanford Bernstein.

If you do the math, this works out to 50 million customers paying $20/month to receive mobile video on their cell phone. Now anyone who has ever used one of those little 2" pocket televisions knows that video on a screen that small is not really what you'd call a "compelling" experience. In fact, it is not an enjoyable way to watch anything for more than about five minutes, in my opinion.

So, while the experts are predicting that this is going to grow into quite a sizeable market, my belief is that it is going to either bomb completely or turn into a modest niche market at best. While I think that there is a nice market for portable television (which I define as something with a screen size of 7" to 13", suitable for setting down someplace to watch when away from home), I don't see the market for mobile television (which I'm defining as very small screens on pocket sized devices for watching television on the go).

What I'm curious about is who might actually be interested in paying money to watch television on their cell phone...anyone here want this service?

 

[SirRoxalot]

Peering into the Future

The good news is that by 2015 the Bluetooth Personal Optical Heads-Up Display will probably be $99.95. Watch cell-phone TV on your virtual big-screen hi-def display while you drive your Chevy Suburban Hybrid Fuel-Cell on the Automated Expressway.

At the rate things are going, you'll be able to cook your breakfast in the in-dash microwave that intercepts and concentrates all the signals in the RF spectrum into a free source of microwaves for cooking.

BTW, we'll still be waiting for the flying cars that were promised by the '50s "Future" ads.

 

[Markxxx]

> Apparently a fair number of folks think that the future of
> television can be found in people watching (and paying for)
> mobile television content on their 1.5" cell phone screens.
> Broadcasting & Cable magazine had several articles on it
> this week, including one that can be found here:
>
>
> One quote that I found particularly interesting in this
> article was this one:
>
> > By 2015, however, the numbers could be more substantial,
> with customers
> > paying cellphone carriers $12 billion for content and
> generating an
> > additional $6 billion in ad revenue, according to Sanford
> Bernstein.
>
> If you do the math, this works out to 50 million customers
> paying $20/month to receive mobile video on their cell
> phone. Now anyone who has ever used one of those little 2"
> pocket televisions knows that video on a screen that small
> is not really what you'd call a "compelling" experience. In
> fact, it is not an enjoyable way to watch anything for more
> than about five minutes, in my opinion.
>
> So, while the experts are predicting that this is going to
> grow into quite a sizeable market, my belief is that it is
> going to either bomb completely or turn into a modest niche
> market at best. While I think that there is a nice market
> for portable television (which I define as something with a
> screen size of 7" to 13", suitable for setting down
> someplace to watch when away from home), I don't see the
> market for mobile television (which I'm defining as very
> small screens on pocket sized devices for watching
> television on the go).
>
> What I'm curious about is who might actually be interested
> in paying money to watch television on their cell
> phone...anyone here want this service?
>
If it does take off it will be thanks to the young generation. They don't seem to mind the "lesser is better," stuff.

I have a tin ear and I can tell the difference, (yes I have tried this without knowing and can hear it) between MP3 and CDs.

I hate those TINY video games, young peope love them

I can't stand cell phones. They sound terrible. I used to run a call center. Cell phones are in NO WAY near the same quality as land lines. And as for VOP via cable, it's come a long way, but if there is a system that is as good as a cell phone, I've yet to hear it.

I don't see it taking off a huge market but there will be enough young people thinking it's cool to make it a big market<P ID="signature">______________
Once I figured out the meaning of life....Then I forgot to write it down.</P>