Mobile
Germany wants second chance for DVB-H
Jörn Krieger ©RapidTVNews | 12-02-2009
Germany’s media authorities are holding onto plans to establish DVB-H mobile television, despite the recent failed attempt by Mobile 3.0.
DLM, the umbrella group of Germany’s media authorities, has created a special committee to evaluate possible interest amongst potential investors. The group will determine whether new models are possible which would enable participators to finance their investment. Media authorities can, however, only set the framework conditions, DLM chairman Thomas Langheinrich stressed in industry publication Meinungsbarometer Digitaler Rundfunk. “The impulse and interest as well as the concept must come from market players.”
Langheinrich sees the cornerstones as being set: “It is important that reception devices are user-friendly, there is good customer service, the content is interesting and it represents good value for money. It shouldn’t be forgotten that the advantages need to be marketed and suitable reception devices must be available everywhere.”
Concerning the working committee’s key tasks Langheinrich explained, “We need to determine which business models will be received positively by the market and if participants are prepared to invest. We also have to consider whether risks should be jointly carried, for example whether transmitter network operators should also make a financial contribution.”
Langheinrich corroborated the desire of media authorities to put mobile-TV via DVB-H back on track. “If sufficient perspectives for success exist, we will do everything to ensure that investors have a chance and users will be given a diverse viewing offer.”
Mobile 3.0 gave its DVB-H licence back to the media authorities in autumn 2008. The consortium, which included German publishing houses Burda und Holtzbrinck as well as South African media concern Naspers, was unable to win Germany’s largest mobile phone network operators as marketing partners, which also applied for the DVB-H licence.
After Mobile 3.0 was granted the licence, the mobile phone network operators brought their own mobile TV phones to the market which could receive conventional digital-terrestrial television via DVB-T – completely free. Mobile 3.0’s business model was therefore effectively torpedoed as it envisioned charging monthly subscription fees of €5 to €10.
© Rapid TV News 2009
