France: TDF proposes to cover mobile TV costs
October 14, 2009
French broadcast transmission company TDF has proposed to mobile operators and TV broadcasters that it would finance the mobile TV network rollout and broadcasting costs during a first phase to reach 17 per cent population coverage.
Until now, TDF had proposed to pay for the rollout, but only for a quarter of operating costs. Under TDF’s revised plan, if mobile TV services attract enough viewers at the 17 per cent coverage target, the network would then be extended, but channels would have to pay part of the broadcasting costs. France’s mobile operators do not want to pay for a DVB-H broadcasting network, preferring to focus on streaming TV over 3G and 3G+. TDF proposes to assume the financial risk alone and to become the sole partner with operators to set the price of mobile TV services.