News 2006
Virgin Mobile launches Mobile TV
07/09/2006
07.09.06: Virgin Mobile today announced the launch of its new mobile TV service, Virgin Mobile TV, and confirmed the that it will be offering a selection of much-loved premium channels and programming to Virgin Mobile TV viewers, starting on October 1st 2006.
Virgin Mobile TV will broadcast BBC One*, ITV1, Channel 4** and E4, offering consumers a wide range of high-profile channels and TV programmes. Customers who have a Virgin Mobile ‘Tellyphone’ will be able to watch their favourite TV programmes and listen to DAB digital radio wherever they are. Wherever you need to watch TV, whether it’s Eastenders on the bus, or Coronation Street in a cab, Virgin Mobile TV will make sure you never have to miss an episode of your favourite programme again.
The service, which is provided by BT’s wholesale mobile broadcast entertainment service, BT Movio, will also broadcast DAB digital radio, offer ‘red-button’ interactivity and features an exclusive seven-day electronic programme guide (EPG).
Virgin Mobile TV can be viewed on the Virgin Mobile Lobster 700 Mobile TV phone, which will be available from October 1st through Virgin Mobile Stores within Virgin Megastores and WHSmiths, its standalone stores, and direct from virginmobile.com/mobile. Virgin Mobile offers the mobile TV phone and service for free for customers on a contract of £25 a month or more, for the life of their contract. The phone is available on pre-pay for £199, when the service will be free for an initial three-month period, followed by a charge of £5 a month. BBC One will be available on a trial basis for 12 months and will be provided free to consumers. Customers who buy a contract in Virgin Mobile Stores also benefit from double the amount of airtime compared to standard tariffs available in other retailers.
The new Virgin Mobile TV device will be supported with a multi-million pound advertising campaign, starring the world-famous actress Pamela Anderson. The ads will be seen on British TV for the first time on October 9th.
Virgin Mobile’s TV service broadcasts TV live** ‘as it happens’ over the DAB digital frequency spectrum, which currently covers more than 85% of the UK population. The Lobster 700 Mobile TV phone is the world’s first DAB-IP-enabled handset, and was created by HTC. As well as offering TV and up to 50 DAB digital radio stations, the handset is also Virgin Mobile’s first Windows-operated smartphone, offering Windows Mobile functionality and Windows Media Player. The device is the first in a series of mobile phones being developed to support the BT Movio service.
Alan Gow, managing director of Virgin Mobile, said: “The launch of Virgin Mobile’s ‘Tellyphone’ is a real watershed, both in terms of mobile devices and the evolution of broadcasting. Virgin Mobile finally delivers what others have been promising for so long - real TV broadcast to your mobile, delivering the programmes you want to watch, when you want to watch them, in a simple and easy-to-use experience. We are hugely proud of the Virgin Mobile TV service and I think it could revolutionise how, when and where people choose to watch TV.”
Emma Lloyd, managing director, BT Movio, said: “BT Movio looks forward to working with Virgin Mobile as our first customer. We fully anticipate that their well-known marketing flare will attract many UK consumers to the service, which will offer the strongest TV and digital radio content for mobile phones yet to be seen in the UK.”
*BBC One will be available on a trial basis for 12 months and will be provided free to consumers.
**Channel 4 will initially broadcast Channel 4 Short Cuts, its made-for-mobile TV channel, and expects Channel 4 simulcast will follow.
Notes to Editors:
- Richard Halton, the BBC’s Controller of Business Strategy said: “In the emerging world of media delivery, the BBC is delighted to have this opportunity to learn more about how viewers will consume digital audio and video content on mobile handsets on a trial basis.”
- Jeff Henry, CEO of ITV Consumer said: “We're delighted to be leading UK broadcasting onto the exciting platform of mobile TV. We're confident that the availability of strong, popular content from familiar channel brands will drive take-up amongst consumers. The broadcast and mobile industries are at the beginning of a steep learning curve, so this service will not only provide a boost to a nascent service, it will also inform future content decisions, allowing us a better understanding of what people want to watch on their phones.”
- Rod Henwood, New Business Director of Channel 4, said: “Channel 4’s strategic and public service objectives are to make our programming and services available across all meaningful platforms and to be one of the first UK broadcasters to begin simulcasting our content on mobile is a significant step towards delivering this.
“Viewing TV via the mobile is fast becoming a reality and the popularity of our existing services proves a strong demand for mobile viewing already exists. Channel 4 and E4 have a loyal audience amongst younger viewers who are huge consumers of mobile content and we believe mobile simulcast will become increasingly popular as audiences get used to the idea of the mobile phone as an extension of their living room.”
For more information please contact:
Virgin Mobile:
Jo Baker: 07941 233300 or jo.baker@virginmobile.com
Alison Bonny: 07802 430276 or alison.bonny@virginmobile.com
Henry’s House
Krissy Knights: 0207 291 3035 or krissy@henryshouse.com
Kate Towey: 0207 291 3020 or kate@henryshouse.com
BT Movio:
Inquiries about this news release should be made to Gemma Thomas in the BT Group Newsroom on its 24-hour number: 020 7356 5369. From outside the UK dial
+ 44 20 7356 5369. All news releases can be accessed at our web site: http://www.bt.com/newscentre.
For review units and photography please contact:
Eulogy!
Jonny Lockwood: 0207 927 9999 or jonny@eulogy.co.uk
Mark Barber: 0207 927 9999 or mark@eulogy.co.uk
About Virgin Mobile:
Virgin Mobile is the UK’s largest mobile virtual network operator and uses T-Mobile's network. Since its launch in November 1999, Virgin Mobile has attracted more than 4 million customers.
Virgin Mobile is part of the ntl:telewest group. The group is the first to be able to offer `quadruple play’ to customers: mobile and fixed line telephony, broadband internet and television.
In the UK, Virgin Mobile phones are available direct on 0845 6000 600; on the web at www.virginmobile.com or on the high street at approximately 5,000 outlets including Virgin Mobile Stores within Virgin Megastores and selected WHSmiths, The Carphone Warehouse, The Link, Phones 4 U, Currys.digital, Comet, Tesco, Asda, John Lewis, Argos, Woolworths, Toys R Us, Ryman, web retailer Dial-a-phone plus hundreds of independent mobile phone dealers and available via Shop Direct/Littlewoods, Grattan and Empire home shopping channels.
Virgin Mobile Pay Monthly (contract) is currently available in Virgin Mobile Stores, The Carphone Warehouse, The Link, Phones 4u, at concessions in WHSmith and from www.virginmobile.com
Virgin Mobile employs approximately 1,700 staff at three sites, Trowbridge, London and Daventry, and has an outsourced customer service centre operated by approximately 200 staff in Middlesbrough.
Virgin Mobile was voted 22nd in the Best Workplaces in the UK Financial Times survey for 2006.
Virgin Mobile is offering its customers a Summer of Free Virgin to Virgin Texts in the UK until 30th September.
View technical specification of Mobile TV in PDF format. (PDF, 412KB, opens in a new window)
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