Korea moves ahead with real-time IPTV
Rose Major ©RapidTVNews
| 11-09-2008
After a process drawn out over a year, three Korean telcos are set to start real-time IPTV broadcasts after getting the final nod from the government.
Trials by KT Corp, Hanarotelecom and LG Dacom will start shortly, to
complement the operators’ existing on-demand IPTV services. Around 100
to 200 homes will take part in each trial, with channels including MBC
and KBS.
Korea’s Communications Commission awarded licences to the three
operators last week, with Daum Communications missing out. KT operates
Mega TV, Hanarotelecom offers Hana TV and LG Dacom runs the myLG
service. Market leader Hana TV has some 900,000 subs, with KT at around
700,000 and myLG behind, with around 200,000. Growth has slowed
markedly in the sector in recent months, with the operators hoping
real-time broadcasting will boost new subscriptions again.
Services must be started commercially by April 2009, but it is likely
the operators will start commercial operations some time before that.
All have been preparing for the move since the country’s legislature
voted to allow real-time IPTV at the end of 2008.
© Rapid TV News 2008
Add comment
