Rogers First In Canada To Provide Live TV On Cell Phones
Fri Apr 15, 2005 11:49 pm
Rogers Wireless and MobiTV today announced the arrival of Rogers Mobile Television in Canada, providing Rogers Wireless customers with real-time access to live television programming including exclusive Toronto Blue Jays content, news, sports and entertainment programming via Rogers Wireless' navigate mobile Internet service. The service is expected to be commercially available in the second quarter.
Rogers Mobile Television service is powered by MobiTV, the world's first network and platform providing live television on wireless phones. Rogers Wireless customers who subscribe to the service will be able to watch exclusive Toronto Blue Jays real-time highlight clips and the companies will offer live programming on at least eight channels, including that from Canadian content providers, at the time of launch. Discussions are ongoing with stations to be available on Rogers Mobile Television, including: MSNBC, CP24, NBC On-Line, Discovery, TLC, The Weather Channel, Meteo Media, NBC Mobile, Major League Baseball Highlights - featuring exclusive Blue Jays content, Comedy Time, and ToonWorld. Rogers will announce additional channels and channel line up details in the coming weeks.
At the time of launch, Rogers Mobile Television will be available to Rogers Wireless customers on several popular wireless phones models from Nokia, Motorola and Sony Ericsson.
"Rogers Mobile Television puts real-time television programming - including Toronto Blue Jays games - right into the hands of Rogers Wireless customers, wherever they are," said Ted Rogers, President and CEO, Rogers Communications Inc. "Rogers is proud to be the first in Canada to announce the arrival of live TV on your wireless phone- delivering a service that will satisfy sports fans, news junkies, music lovers or anyone who wants to be entertained while on the go."
"Rogers is the technology pioneer in Canada and has a long history of delivering innovative programming that matters to customers on their television sets. And, Rogers was the first to offer high speed Internet service for our customers' computers," said Philip B. Lind, Vice Chair, Rogers Communications Inc. "Today, working with MobiTV, Rogers has become the first provider in Canada to announce that it will deliver live programming on the third screen - a wireless device."
"As Canada's largest wireless provider and the country's only GSM network provider - the world standard for wireless communications - Rogers Wireless offers Canada's largest array of video-capable handsets," said Nadir Mohamed, President and CEO, Rogers Wireless Inc. "This combination of assets provides Rogers Wireless with a unique opportunity to provide customers with a truly mobile entertainment package."
"It's been just one short year since we launched MobiTV and, already, watching TV while on the move has become part of daily life for hundreds of thousands of cell phone users," said Philip Alvelda, Chairman and CEO of Idetic, Inc., the Company behind MobiTV. "Launching MobiTV on Rogers Wireless' nationwide network is tremendous validation for the global appeal of live television on the cell phone. We're excited about providing Canadian wireless users a great mobile television experience."
Rogers Mobile Television can be purchased directly from a Rogers Wireless phone using Rogers Wireless' navigate mobile Internet service. After downloading the service the first time, Rogers Mobile Television will be accessible from the wireless phone's menu.
Rogers Mobile Television will be available for a promotional period for $9.00/month plus additional data transport costs of between approximately $10.00-$15.00 depending on the wireless data package that the customer chooses. This cost includes both a subscription fee and access to channels. For more information about Rogers Mobile Television, please visit www.rogers.com/mobiletv .
This beats the pants off of streaming video in the U.S. We only get to choose from a prerecorded list of shows...
2. Posted by trevchambers
Sat Apr 16, 2005 5:52 pm
This is so amazing. I am always on the go I ride the TRAIN everyday to get to work in Downtown Toronto. and I have Rogers Wireless. I will definetley be subsribing to this. So cool!!! I'm a huge fan of the Blue Jays as well, so being able to watch game highlights ANYWHERE is beyond amazing. Rogers ROCKS.
3. Posted by VE1WAB
Sun Apr 17, 2005 7:23 pm
Since this is going to be streaming over the navigate or GPRS data does this mean that Rogers will finally have reasonable data plans? because if not people will be looking at mega huge bills. If rogers does allow a larger amount of data with this TV subscription i would get it just for that, as i am not interested in the streaming tv but i am interested in a data plan that i can use without being worried i may have to sell my house to pay for.
4. Posted by binhex2000
Wed Jun 01, 2005 2:56 am
The rate for the mobiTV is $9.99 to start with additional data charges of $12-15 for the introductory period and about $35 a month after that if you watch shows. I watched a demo on one of their new phones and it was dismal. For that price I can get a cable package for home. And who wants to watch recanned TV shows on a phone.
And yes their data plans are crazy. All you can eat data is $100 extra a month on top of your regular bill or $40 for 7MB.
I for one want to see carriers get real with their pricing. And I would like to see content specifically designed for the phone not some TV show cut down to show on the phone. Have you seen the offerings from Much Music they actually expect people to pay $2.50 to download the talking sock. This they call mobile entertainment.
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