Vodafone, BSkyB to launch Sky Mobile TV

LONDON: Mobile phone giant Vodafone and British satellite broadcaster BSkyB said on Monday they are to launch a 19-channel mobile television service in the UK on Tuesday.

The service, Sky Mobile TV, will give users of Vodafone's third-generation (3G) devices access to 24-hour news channels as well as sport, entertainment and documentary programmes. The companies said the service would be free until the end of January and would be charged at 5 pounds ($8.9) a month thereafter. It is offering two packages: a news, sport and factual programme service and an entertainment and music package.

Vodafone, which has exclusive access to the service until the end of March, has over 250,000 3G subscribers in the UK and it says its 3G service covers 72 percent of the UK population.