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SES Astra Joins Dutch Mobile Interactive TV (DVB-H) Trial |
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BETZDORF, Luxembourg, Sept. 13, 2005/Satnews Daily/ — SES Astra, an SES Global company (EURONEXT:SESG)(LuxX:SESG), said on Monday it will participate in the Dutch Mobile Interactive TV trial along with KPN and 3G Media Consult. During the trial, television programs will be transmitted via the Nozema Services infrastructure to selected subscribers in the Netherlands equipped with Nokia DVB-H mobile phones.
Results announced last week by Nokia from one of the world's first commercial mobile TV pilots in Helsinki reveal that 41% of pilot participants would be willing to purchase mobile TV services, and half thought that a fixed monthly fee of 10 euros was a reasonable price to pay. Over half (58%) said they believed broadcast mobile TV services would be popular.
In the follow-on Dutch Mobile Interactive TV trial, SES Astra said it will support KPN, Nozema Services, Digitenne and Nokia to test the technical and commercial aspects of broadcast mobile TV using the DVB-H standard. With DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld), content is transmitted with a very high picture and audio quality to large numbers of mobile users.
An important part of the Dutch study will consist of evaluating the opportunities for interactive services made possible by combining a broadcast service with a mobile network.
Under the agreement, SES Astra will provide one feed of TV content showing recent film trailers and Hollywood news, integrated with an interactive movie quiz. The feed will be captured and broadcast via Nozema Services' infrastructure to the participants' mobile phones. The film newscast, interactive phone components and mobile downloads will be assembled by 3G Media Consult BV, a mobile content service provider. The video clips will be updated frequently and serve to validate both the technical and the commercial solutions.
Mobile TV Broadcasting allows users to watch their favorite TV programs, such as dramas, news, music, sports and documentaries, on their mobile device. Channel guides can also be transmitted, allowing users to keep abreast of the latest programs on air. Unlike streaming video over 3G or GPRS, DVB-H transmission is a true broadcast, like digital satellite or terrestrial TV, optimized for low battery power consumption.
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