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Dubai: Now that both of the UAE's telecommunications operators have announced intentions to stream TV to mobile phones next year, another telecom battle has begun, this time on who will offer the most compelling programming.
Both du and etisalat are conducting trials with a broadcast technology called DVB-H, or digital video broadband-handheld, with service expected to begin around mid-year.
They join a select group of countries testing the technology. DVB-H mobile TV services are being piloted in Europe, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, South Africa and the US. Most of the top handset makers produce or will soon unveil phones DVB-H-enabled phones.
Time will unviel the winning formula. The early prognosis is that TV programming is going to have to be reengineered to suit a world where people now move in Internet speed.
Watching TV is a social event, where people sit together, pass around the potato chips, and spend a few hours watching their favourite shows.
But observers say mobile TV users won't wants to spend 30 minutes craning their necks at a tiny screen on their phones and instead will prefer shorter clips.
That's a natural fit for news, weather and sports programming. But whether hour-long, chart-topping shows like 24 and Desperate Housewives have a future on mobile TV is another matter.
Samir Abdulhadi, president and CEO of Orbit Communications, a Bahrain-based satellite TV provider, tends to favour creating new programming specifically for mobile phones, but noted the technology would likely evolve greatly in the next few years. "It's too early to commit in any one direction," he said.
Nick Grande, head of business development at Showtime Arabia, said pro-viders will have to gauge the appetite of the UAE population for mobile TV and respond accordingly. "We want to give the man in street the opportunity to decide what TV they want to watch on the phone."
Exclusivity
Both Orbit and Showtime are in talks with the UAE telecoms to provide content but haven't announced any partnerships yet. "We will be working with the telecoms not only in the UAE but in other countries as well," predicted Grande. Initially working with the telecoms, Grande said Showtime could soon offer its own content package. "There will be a Showtime bouquet of channels in the not too distant future," he said.
Gabriel Chahine, head of the communications and media unit at Booz Allen Hamilton, a business consultancy, said each operator needs a diverse portfolio to cater to each segment including youth, sports and business.
But tying up exclusive contracts with content providers won't come easily.
"Both operators are trying to get exclusive deals with broadcasters and other content pro-viders."
Exclusivity is very important to get, but it is much more challenging to achieve," he said.
Your comments
Most of the people who live in UAE are too busy. Many of us have no time to watch TV even at home. How can we watch TV on mobile?
Shafeer Hameed
Sharjah,UAE
Posted:
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