Pay TV fails to unite on mobile TV

Hong Kong - The pay TV sector is yet to agree on a standard platform for mobile TV and as a result is missing out on huge amounts of additional revenue.

A meeting of mobile content, technology providers and pay-TV heavyweights in Hong Kong last week agreed that there were many challenges facing mobile TV, but failed to agree on a standard platform for what is expected to be a lucrative source of new revenue.

The meeting, hosted by the Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) drew the likes of Sony Pictures Television, STAR Group, Turner International, Bloomberg, Discovery Networks and Walt Disney Television.

All participants agreed that two major challenges remain before securing mass consumer adoption of mobile TV services was user experience and content.

"It remains clear that network operators and content providers have yet to agree on what kind of business model works," Simon Twiston Davies, CASBAA CEO, said.

"We have made a start. That's all. There is much work to be done," he added.