Nation Broadcasting Corp. (NBC) has applied with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) for a certificate of public convenience (CPC) to install, operate, and maintain a nationwide digital mobile television broadcasting system.
In a memorandum submitted to the NTC, NBN said it has proved and demonstrated that it has the legal, financial, and technical capability to install, operate, and maintain a nationwide digital mobile TV broadcasting service.
NBC noted that the Philippine Cable TV Association (PCTA) has manifested its intent to withdraw as oppositor to its application. Another company, Philippine Multimedia Systems Inc. (PMSI) is opposing NBC’s application for a CPC. NBC is owned by Mediaquest, a wholly owned subsidiary of the PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund.
The PLDT group currently offers its mobile TV services, dubbed myTV, through Smart Communications and broadcast company 360media Corp., also a subsidiary of Mediaquest. myTV is being broadcast using the mobile TV platform called Digital Video Broadcasting ‑ Handheld or DVB-H.
PLDT acquired GV Broadcasting to pave the way for the introduction of the mobile TV service. Officials say myTV is currently using the frequency of GV, but will eventually utilize that of NBC once granted a new frequency by the NTC.
Consumer studies and service trials conducted by MediaQuest and Smart early this year show strong acceptance for Mobile TV.
The study cited features such as the flexibility of being able to watch TV anywhere, the handset’s portability and clear audio/video qualities, and the entertainment/relaxation derived from the service are key usage drivers.
myTV is a broadcast service that delivers content to many viewers simultaneously through a digital TV broadcast signal optimized for mobile devices ‑ very much like the way conventional TV delivers a TV signal to homes. myTV is not transmitted through the cellular network via video streaming and video-downloads services which is currently offered through 3G cellular networks.
In a recent report, research firm Informa Telecoms and Media forecasts that worldwide revenues from mobile TV and video services will rise from $2.46 billion in 2006 to $8.35 billion in 2011. A study by IMS Research published in August 2006 says nearly half a billion people will be watching TV on their mobile phones by the end of 2011.
MediaQuest and Smart have earmarked $50 million to fund the operations and roll-out of the first commercial mobile TV in the country.
MediaQuest president Orlando Vea said the $50-million investment spread over in three years would fund the operations and implementation of the mobile TV service.