Satellite pay-TV operator PMSI is planning the launch of a DVB-H service in the Philippines later this year. “PMSI is currently showing eight different channels on Samsung DVB-H compatible handsets, with additional handsets and unique programming expected to be available soon. The commercial service will initially launch in Metro Manila and extend to other major cities,” reports SatNews. PMSI has partnered with free-to-air broadcaster ABC5 for content, amongst others.
The article has a lot of detail on technical issues but is thin on details of the business model — such as how much the service will charge, whether it will be ad-supported and any deals with carriers. Mobile operator Smart Communications is trialing a DVB-H service, and when questioned whether it would be competing with broadcasters the response was no, they can use our service…then they asked who broadcasters with a DVB-H system would broadcast to, since they don’t have any mobile customers… That’s something that PMSI will need to sort out.
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