Copyright Issues Delay Finnish Mobile TV

The Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE) has delayed introducing DVB-H services, citing unresolved copyright issues and a lack of DVB-H compatible handsets in the country. Copyright organizations demand that separate copyright payments be made for programs on DVB-H even if the content is the same as that broadcast on ordinary TV channels, reports Helsingin Sanomat, adding that the Ministry of Education is reviewing the situation but hasn’t reached a decision. The handset availability problem will be fixed over time, most likely after services are launched (it’s Nokia’s home ground, after all) but the broadcasters want copyright issues sorted out before they launch. “The commercial MTV3 television network is sticking to its previous decision not to begin DVB-H services before the copyright issue has been resolved, says deputy CEO Mikko Räisänen…Nelonen (Channel 4), which is part of SanomaWSOY, is also waiting before taking further action.” The carriers seem to be ready, more or less: “TeliaSonera would like to offer the service to its customers, but without handsets and content, the launch will be slow, says Pasi Mehtonen, the company’s head of product development.” (via Thomas Husson)

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