DD, Nokia to pilot mobile TV in metros

Public broadcaster Prasar Bharti and world's largest mobile phone maker Nokia are all set to pilot a mobile TV in metro cities, which will enable cellular phone users watch Doordarshan channels on their handsets.

Nokia India has entered into a tender with DD to launch the service, which would make DD channels available on select high-end Nokia handset models.

During the pilot phase, Doordarshan will test the reception quality of the broadcast coverage. Attendant things like a revenue structure or advertising opportunities will come later. It will also help Nokia and Doordarshan gauge the acceptability.

DD is doing the deliberations and the pilot for the mobile TV will start soon in the metros. Extensive planned commercial launch will take some time, Vineet Taneja, director (multimedia business), Nokia India said.

Among the handsets, the N92 series is capable of catching television signals, Nokia officials said. The series will soon be available in India.

The officials said it is for Doordarshan, which has put up a mobile television platform, to set a time frame about commercial launch of their TV on Mobile.

Analysts in the know, however, say it remains to be seen how revenue models are worked out.

Adoption of mobile TV will ultimately give way to a more personal and private TV experience than that of traditional broadcast TV, with big implications for users, content providers and advertisers.