Mobile-TV firm Modeo outlined details of the beta-test of its mobile TV service—covering 475 square miles in the New York metro area—at an event in NYC, on the same day at Verizon Wireless launched its mobile TV service rival technology from Qualcomm.
The beta version of the service features six channels, all from cable networks: CNBC, Discovery Channel, E! Entertainment Television, Fox News Channel, Fox Sports and MSNBC. Modeo president Mike Ramke said the company licensed more content than what it is including in the beta.
However, Modeo still lacks a partner to offer the service commercially, and it is desperately trying, but will be tough going with AT&T and Verizon locked up with MediaFlo. PC Mag has some bluster from Modeo about not needing carrier partners… the company has been saying for a while they’ll go it alone if need be, and sell other DVB-H capable devices such as portable music players and laptops. In fact, Modeo suggests MediaFLO’s success could actually help them in a backhanded sort of way…”[The market] is basically untapped except for a couple of [wireless] carriers,” Ramke said. Further, Verizon’s and AT&T’s decision to go with an outsourced mobile TV provider—even if it isn’t Modeo—makes Modeo’s similar business strategy look more appealing to potential partners, he said.”
Also, the company announced that it has obtained a waiver from the FCC Monday, allowing it to increase the power limit at which it broadcasts its signal in the top 30 cell markets…that will allow Modeo to deliver service much more cost effectively