BANGALORE, INDIA: Mobile television (TV) is a service where viewers can view TV on their mobile phones. South Korea was the front-runner in this application. Mobile TV combines the services of a mobile phone with TV content and represents a logical step, both for consumers, operators and content providers. Mobile TV over cellular networks also allows viewers to enjoy personalized, interactive TV with content specifically adapted to the mobile medium.

Functioning
Mobile TV services be provided by two ways—one is through two-way casting and the other is through unicasting. Nokia has conducted several DVB-H mobile TV broadcast pilots, while Samsung used DMB technology for enabling the services earlier in Europe.

The videos transmitted in the mobile from the channel are of two types—one is a streamed content and the other is live. Though all the operators in India claim that they are offering live channel programs, there are few minute lags in receiving the video. It is made possible through the high-speed packet access (HSPA), which is still utilized for pilot programs in the country.

Reliance Communication has been a pioneer in bringing Mobile TV services into the country. Reliance tied up with various TV channels and provided downloading facility in the handsets. According to Krishna Durbha, Head—Sales and Marketing, Applications, Solutions and Content Group, Reliance Communication, "This technology entered some five years ago, and it was very successful as it was widely accepted among the consumers. Without any differentiation from rural or metros, the response was really encouraging."

The presence of market for the TV in handsets has been once again strongly proved after BSNL forayed into the arena. Though various other service providers announced their entry into the forum, BSNL entered the space with huge and attractive introductory offers.