Despite European official preference for DVB-H, the mobile TV standard backed by Nokia (NYSE: NOK), Norway has gone with DMB as its choice. A consortium comprising three of Norway’s largest broadcasters—public broadcaster NRK and commercial broadcasters TV2 and MTG—are planning a nine-channel line-up; on demand content and related services for a Winter launch this year, reports Broadband TV News. Norway falls outside European Commission, which chose DVB-H earlier this year. UK already auctioned off its spectrum to DVB-H rival Mediaflo, backed by Qualcomm (NSDQ: QCOM). The JV company Norsk Mobil-TV AS is talking to operators and vendors for the launch, to start with Greater Oslo, an area that covers 30 percent of the Norwegian population.

Telecoms.com: DMB is seen as the best technology in Norway due to cost efficient coverage of large and rural areas. DMB receivers are also compatible with DAB digital radio that is available to 80 percent of the population in Norway.