Singapore , 25 July 2008 - The three local telecommunications service providers M1, Singtel and StarHub, together with the national broadcaster MediaCorp, will jointly conduct a consumer mobile TV trial using Digital Video Broadcasting - Handheld (DVB-H) technology next month.

 

The DVB-H platform delivers broadcast services to mobile devices, offering users superior picture quality and a marked improvement to their mobile TV experience.

 

Some 300 customers of the three telcos are expected to participate in this trial spanning over three months. Participation is by invitation only.

 

Trialists will be able to view six dedicated channels during the trial and enjoy a variety of television programmes.

 

There will be a wide range of quality programming across different genres. Sports fans will enjoy comprehensive coverage of the Beijing Olympics on TV Mobile, as well as all the action from Barclays Premier League on StarHub's   Football Channel.

 

Chinese viewers will be treated to  Cantonese movies from Singapore’s first Cantonese movie channel - Singtel mio TV’s Mei Ah Movies Channel, as well as the simulcast of StarHub's TVBS News in August, and CTI in September. News maniacs can access the simulcast Channel News Asia for international news and CNBC for their financial updates. Trialists will also get to enjoy the quality documentaries from The History Channel by StarHub in October.   

 

Selected programmes from Kids Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Channel 8 and Channel U will also be shown on the two other composite channels.

 

“The convergence of broadcast media and telecommunications technologies is ably demonstrated on the DVB-H platform and this trial with our business and consumer partners will help us bridge the vital human factor. We hope to better understand consumer preferences and behaviour that will enable us to define realistic service standards for the exciting new world of mobile TV,” said Neil Montefiore, Chief Executive Officer, M1.

 

“We are very pleased to be able to be involved in this project that heralds another step forward in entertainment on the go,” said Mr Quek Peck Leng, Executive Vice President, Consumer Group, Singtel. “Our mio TV on Mobile service enables customers to conveniently access mio TV content wherever they are, and DVB-H will allow even more features. We are also very pleased that our content partner Mei Ah has been selected as one of the channels that will be used during the trial.”

 

"Mobile TV is a relatively recent concept now that newer wireless technologies are able to deliver high quality transmissions. The DVB-H platform is one of the major platforms designed to optimise the delivery of broadcast content over mobile devices, and this trial is designed to gather feedback on user acceptance and interest in mobile TV viewing," Terry Clontz, CEO of StarHub said.

 

“MediaCorp pioneered DVB-H consumer trials in Singapore some 4 years ago.  From our past experience, the availability of handsets is paramount to the service taking off.  I am happy that our efforts to have all 3 Singapore telcos onboard the trial will offer better quality and wider choice of services to our customers and, at the same time, allow us to explore viable business models,” says Lucas Chow, CEO MediaCorp.

 

Participants of the trial will be using the Samsung P-960 handsets and the trial is also supported by technology partners, Alcatel-Lucent and Gemalto.

 

About M1

M1, Singapore's most exciting and innovative mobile, broadband and IDD service provider, was launched in April 1997. Since then, it has made significant inroads into the local mobile communications market, gaining considerable brand presence and market share. M1 aims to be the leader in personal voice, business and data communications, focusing on value, quality and customer service. More information on M1 is available at  www.m1.com.sg

About Singtel

Singtel is Asia's leading communications group providing a portfolio of services including voice and data services over fixed, wireless and Internet platforms.  It has a network of 37 offices in 19 countries and territories throughout Asia Pacific,  Europe and the United States.   Together with its regional partners, Singtel is Asia’s largest multi-market mobile operator, serving more than 185 million mobile customers in eight markets. 

 

About StarHub

StarHub is Singapore's fully-integrated info-communication company, offering a full range of information, communications and entertainment services for both consumer and corporate markets. StarHub operates Singapore's fastest two-way 3.5G mobile network that delivers up to 14.4 Mbps for downlink (with HSPA+ coming soon) to complement its nation-wide GSM network, and an island-wide HFC network that delivers multi-channel cable TV services (including Digital Cable and High Definition Television) as well as ultra-high speed residential broadband services. StarHub also operates an extensive fixed business network that provides a wide range of data, voice and wholesale services.

 

Launched in 2000, StarHub has become one of Singapore's most innovative info-communications providers, and the pioneer in 'hubbing' - the ability to deliver unique integrated and converged services to all its customers. StarHub is listed on the main board of the Singapore Exchange since October 2004 and is a component stock of the Straits Times Index. Visit  www.starhub.com for more information.

 

About Mediacorp

MediaCorp is Singapore’s leading media company with the most complete range of platforms, spanning television, radio, newspapers, magazines, movies and digital media.

 

It pioneered the development of Singapore’s broadcasting industry, hitting the radio airwaves in 1936 and beaming the first TV pictures in 1963. Today, MediaCorp has over 55 products in four languages (English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil), that reaches to all adults in Singapore each week.

 

Among them are industry firsts such as the first in the world to use Digital Video Broadcast technology for outdoor digital television, and Asia’s first Digital Audio Broadcast radio service. Initiatives in the digital space include a highly successful online classifieds, Internet TV-on-demand and High Definition TV broadcast.

 

Beyond Singapore, the diversified group is making its presence felt through co-productions in TV dramas and movies, magazines publishing, as well as Channel NewsAsia International, the only Asian owned English news channel.

 

In 2007, it entered into a financial and strategic relationship with Indonesia's most integrated media company PT Media Nusantara Citra and its parent, Global Mediacom.   MediaCorp has a stake in Nanjing-based Dahe Media Pte Ltd, a leading Chinese outdoor advertising firm, and International Media Corporation in Vietnam, set up to develop and produce entertainment and economic news content as well as to provide channel management services.

 

Winner of numerous international awards and accolades including Asia Television's Broadcaster of the Year, MediaCorp’s vision is to become Asia’s top media company, delivering valued content to the world.