Is that a phone in your pocket, or are you just glad to see TV?

Filed in archive Announcements on September 22, 2005

There has been buzz about mixing cell phones and television. In fact, there are two real approaches to it. MobiTV is the cellphone-TV entry from Sprint/nextel and Cingular Wireless; offering 25 live television channels. Vcast from Verizon Wireless is the other.

My take is that neither of these will grow into a vibrant medium for television. Don't get me wrong, I can see very specific situations where I might wish I had one or the other services. But will I go out and pick out a cell phone and provider and be willing to pay to see this stuff. No.

An article today in the WSJ said it best:

"Few people are going to come home, pop open a beer and watch their cellphone anytime soon. But there may be a market for those who spend time on public transportation or waiting in lines."

Another angle on the business potential for this service: A consumer that pays $70 for digital cable, $30 for broadband, and $40 for cell phone service each month is paying almost $1700 a year for television, voice, and data. I don't believe that cell phone television is worth paying another $120 to get some of the same content (with lower quality and fewer options).