Mobile Foxtel - sort of
Justin
By Julian Lee
Sydney
SMH October 24, 2005 - 1:36PM
Television is finally leaving the living room. The day before Apple is
expected to announce an Australian music and video download service, Foxtel
has announced a portable device to watch Pay TV on the go.
The details are sketchy, but Foxtel today promised to launch a portable
digital TV device within 18 months. The device would only be available to
Foxtel digital TV subscribers who own the IQ "personal video recorder".
The IQ, which downloads TV shows for later viewing, would transmit programs
to the new "IQ On The Go" device, which features a 7-inch viewing screen.
Foxtel boss Kim Williams told the media today: "Not only will you be able to
watch what you want, when you want, now you will be able to watch it where
you want."
Portable video has long been regarded as a niche market because of the tiny
screens on such devices. But interest grew 11 days ago when Apple introduced
a video iPod.
Apple is holding a press conference in Sydney tomorrow, where it is expected
to unveil a long-awaited Australian version of its iTunes website, which
will sell music and possibly video.
The US version of iTunes already sells popular TV shows for $US2 ($A2.67)
each. Australia's Free-To-Air TV stations have also shown renewed interest
in portable video.
Last week the Seven network revealed plans to distribute programs such as
Home and Away, Blue Heelers and Dancing with the Stars to the internet,
portable media devices and mobile phones by mid-2006.
"Mobility is the next move," Seven spokesman Simon Francis said at the time.
"By this time next year you will see some significant moves in delivery
platforms beyond broadcast TV."
It is not clear if Foxtel's "IQ On The Go" would be compatible with the Free
To Air devices. Mobile phone companies are also expected to offer live TV on
the latest third-generation mobile phones.
Optus already offers TV networks CNN International, ABC and SBS on its
mobiles.
Foxtel also announced today that it plans to offer two 24-hour High
Definition digital TV channels by 2008. All existing Foxtel and Austar
subscribers are expected to be switched to digital TV by April 2007.
Anthony Barnett
be available to anyone as no customer actually owns the iQ!
Anthony Barnett
"Justin" <Justin...@nospamlogicalfusion.com.au> wrote in message
news:435d5adc$0$28782$afc3...@news.optusnet.com.au...
Hammers
"Anthony Barnett" <abar...@bigpond.net.au> wrote in message
news:m6f7f.26929$U51....@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> If this device is only available to customers who OWN the iQ then it won't
> be available to anyone as no customer actually owns the iQ!
>
> Anthony Barnett
Thanks for clearing that up fuckwit.
google...@sensation.net.au
> The details are sketchy, but Foxtel today promised to launch a portable
> digital TV device within 18 months. The device would only be available to
> Foxtel digital TV subscribers who own the IQ "personal video recorder".
>
> The IQ, which downloads TV shows for later viewing, would transmit programs
> to the new "IQ On The Go" device, which features a 7-inch viewing screen.
Hmm. I'm guessing that this is an extension to the IQ, ie content must
be recorded at the time of showing on Foxtel rather than an on demand
download. Does that really compete with Apple's offering?