Why ABC/Disney Is Not A Part of MediaFlo and Verizon Wireless

A general story in THR about MediaFlo, the mobile TV network by Qualcomm and just launched in U.S. on Verizon Wireless. In it, a detail about why Disney-owned ABC is missing from the TV channels lineup. While sister channel ESPN is part of the MediaFlo lineup, the conglomerate didn’t reach an agreement for the broadcaster. Albert Cheng, EVP of digital media at Disney-ABC Television Group, isn’t exactly upset about that. “It feels so old media in new media…We are interested in on-demand and local-insertion opportunities, which this platform does not provide. We’re disappointed in the inability to serve those needs.”
ON the other hand, someone else thinks this about the MediaFlo launch: “I think it’s very important,” CBS Mobile EVP Cyriac Roeding says. “I would go so far as to say this is one of the most significant developments in mobile entertainment in the last five years.” Really? Looks like I missed the last five years.

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