Hello!
And welcome to our Thursday column, Worst of the Week. There’s a lot of nutty stuff that goes on in this industry, so this column is a chance for us at RCR to rant and rave about whatever rubs us the wrong way. We hope you enjoy it!
And without further ado:
“Letters. We’ve got letters. We’ve got sacks and sacks of letters. Leeeetttterrrrsss!”
Just like Dave on CBS, I’m going to open up RCR Wireless News’ own “mailbag.” Last week I wrote about mobile TV, and how awesome I thought it was. (Actually, that’s not true, I don’t think the current mobile TV market is all that great.) You can read last week’s column here.
Anyway, I said that I would publish all the thoughtful e-mails I received about mobile TV—and I did actually get some thoughtful e-mails! I know, I’m as surprised as you; I figured the only people who actually read this column are strung-out meth freaks and cyberneticly enhanced proto-simian keyboard jockeys. Looks like I was wrong (which is my default state of existence, at least according to my wife and everyone else I know).
Anyway, the point is that here are some thoughtful letters I received about mobile TV:
Hi Mike,
Great article on mobile TV yesterday—and thanks for posting the update on FreeBe TV.
I thought it might help if I sent you some briefing notes on why we’ve launched free mobile TV.
We’ve already had 700,000 web hits from 120 countries worldwide (it’s being viralled) and 10,000 sign-ups.
We’re growing a unique global mobile TV community!
We’re currently compatible with 21 handsets (slated to be 100+ within months) and offer 21 channels (set to grow to 100+ within weeks).
Why pay for mobile TV when it’s free?!
And what impact might this have on the major telcos who are banking on revenue from subscription TV?
Best regards,
Bruce Renny
ROK Entertainment Group
Mike,
I think your points about mobile TV were excellent and right on. I think providers are mostly missing the point. Just because they can provide mobile TV, should they? As you point out the quality has to be there to make the effort worth it. I think you hit on what to me is the even bigger point though. Why would I want to watch TV on my phone anyway? Are people that bored? If I’m somewhere where I actually have the time to watch TV, there is almost certainly a more suitable screen available anyway. On a plane I can watch a movie on my laptop. At home I actually have TVs equipped with DVRs etc. that were meant for the job. If I’m out somewhere where there isn’t a suitable screen to watch TV on, chances are good that I’m not sitting there wondering what to do, thinking if I only had a TV… I’m doing something other than watching TV. Perhaps there are some super mobile people out there who simply can’t live without TV everywhere all the time. But I think the real problem is that the mobile TV industry is trying to provide a solution to a problem that most people simply don’t have.
Thanks,
James Green
Marketing Manager
LiveCargo Inc.
Mike,
As always, I enjoyed reading your column. However, don’t give up hope on Mobile TV yet.
As you will recall, the iPod wasn’t the first MP3 player on the market. Apple just got it right and one of the carriers will nail it down the road.
Carriers are struggling with a few issues in this arena. (1) What do consumers want to watch? You spoke on this topic (regarding your own experience) in the column. (2) Business models (stream or broadcast) / (subscription-based or ad-funded). (3) Technical issues: spectrum, bandwidth, storage.
Mobile TV is in the embryonic stages and one size will not fit all. In fact, I believe the “Long Tail” will play out in the mobile TV business and be successful.
Best,
Chris Parandian
Capitol Solutions
Vice President
Mike-
We hope to satisfy all your desires/expectations with our MediaFLO USA service in the coming months.
Take care, Gina
Gina Lombardi
Another fine motherBLEEPing column.
Here’s a wireless service that was recently pointed out to me that I am trying to fathom why anyone would want: http://www.hooptyme.com/index.html. Basically, you pay 5 bucks a month and hope that you see someone while driving that you think is “cute,” are able to write down their license plate, hope they are also paying 5 bucks a month, send an SMS to their license plate, and hope they respond.
There’s a lot of crap out there like that. I know you write “Worst of the Week” but maybe one week you could give examples of mobile services that actually make sense and are worth paying for (even if they are free). Services like:
Cell R.E.: Uses Bluetooth and a databse to identify the little chunks of unidentifiable vegetables whenever you open a can of Campbell’s soup.
MobiDick: You get an SMS that says “Thar she blows!” whenever a white whale is nearby.
OK, I made those up. But I’m sure you’ve seen at least one or two good ones. Use your bully pulpit to highlight things that work for once. But still be funny.
Vaya con Queso.
David Brewer
Hi Mike,
How are you? I’m writing on behalf of my client, ROK Entertainment, to discuss your recent “Worst of the Week” posting, which mentions ROK.
Although I understand your gripe about the content that is delivered via FreeBe TV, please understand this is just the beginning. ROK has immediate plans for developing and expanding the content delivered via FreeBe TV, and we will notify you when this happens.
The more important issue here however is that network operators are stifling the successful adoption of mobile TV service – through both A.) Their insistence in running on 3G platforms (which drastically limits the target market), and B.) Charging data tariff charges that place additional barriers to adoption.
By offering free TV to a mass (2.5 G handset) audience, ROK believes it can build a mass momentum for mobile TV now, not five years from now. With a mass audience in place, real innovation and investment can begin and the enormous potential of this market can be realized.
Best Regards,
Jessica Francisco for ROK
Mike, good article on Mobile TV. Maybe a wireless journalist follow-on story might be why wireless co’s (QComm & Crown Castle also) spend so much on this non-voice call content, when, worldwide, only 9% (Eur) to 12% (US) of wireless users are really exploiting 3G capabilities. For most, it’s still all about coverage.
Don Mueller
Orange Co, NY
Love the Thursday columns.
Just wanted to add that when I moved from Denver the 3 daily showings of the Simpson’s was one of the things I missed. Our crappy Fox affiliate here only shows it once a day. What’s worse is that they show it at 5. They must think Simpson’s viewers don’t work.
Thanks for the columns and for the funny links.
Mike Thompson
OK! Enough of that. Thanks for checking out this Worst of the Week column (even though it was really just the RCR mailbag). Wanna check out other Worst of the Week entries? Click here for past columns. And now, some extras:
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OK, so I hate to have to write about this, but I really feel like I need to at least mention it: Please don’t talk on your cell phone while you’re using a public restroom (or any restroom, for that matter). I’ve spotted these “bathroom talkers” several times recently, and I’m far too embarrassed to actually talk to them in the bathroom, so I’ll just be a wuss and do it here: If you’re thinking about having a cell-phone conversation while on the pot… just don’t. And I know there’s at least a few of you out there because I’ve overheard business conversations coming from the bathroom stalls at several CTIA shows. Seriously, though, it’s just gross.
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Verizon Wireless announced it’s going to sell V Skins from Skinit Inc. They’re like bumper stickers for your cell phone. I hope there’s ones that say stuff like “My other cell phone is a ‘multimedia computer.'” Or maybe “My honor student’s cell phone is better than your honor student’s cell phone.” Or maybe “Ring if you like to honk.” Ok, I don’t even know what that last one means.
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Lucent Technologies announced that it conducted a survey that found out that businesses are willing to pay a premium for high-speed data services (which Lucent just happens to sell). In related news, I conducted a survey and found out no one is willing to pay a premium for anything I write, say or do. You know what would be really cool? If Lucent were to conduct a survey that was totally and completely unrelated to what it sells: “Lucent Technologies announced that it conducted a survey that found out that green M&Ms are in fact the best tasting M&Ms ever in the history of the world” or something. Yup, really cool.
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Cingular announced it will offer HBO Latino programs through its Cingular Video service. The HBO Latino category on HBO Mobile will include “the animated series ‘El Perro y Gato,’ which teaches English and Spanish vocabulary to kids in a fun and engaging way.” I’m sure there are a ton of 10-year-olds out there who have parents willing to pay $200 for a 3G phone and $20 a month for HBO Mobile. And I’m sure they’re going to use it to learn how to speak a different language.
I welcome your comments. Please send me an e-mail at mdano@crain.com.
