Communications report 2011–12 series Report 1—Online video content services in Australia

OVC services for portable devices in Australia

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Mobile TV services in Australia

OVC services for portable devices in Australia

One of the most significant shifts in online video distribution is its ongoing expansion into additional platforms in response to heightened demand for portable internet access devices such as smartphones and tablets. While mobile TV and video services have been available in some form for almost a decade—most commonly via portals—the introduction of new technologies, such as cloud storage, applications and improved mobile networks, has invigorated interest in providing OVC services to portable devices.
As already noted in this report, FTA broadcasters have widely adopted, or have announced they are developing, multi-platform delivery services to enable them to maximise audiences for their catch-up television content. In the competitive mobile communications market, Australian ISPs are expanding their services to include mobile video content, seeking to take advantage of consumer demand for anywhere, anytime content access.

Mobile TV services in Australia

With easy-to-use touch screen devices and lower data prices, mobile TV services are now within the technological and financial means of more people than ever before (Table 8).
Each of Australia’s mobile networks currently market their mobile television services in Australia in partnership with content providers. FOXTEL on Mobile Devices is available solely to users of Telstra’s Next G network and is accessed via an app downloadable from the iTunes or Android website. Content available is a reduced version of the FOXTEL TV service and is available to pre-paid or post-paid customers.
At September 2012, Optus offered one mobile TV service, with its cloud-based TVNow service having been cancelled on 7 September. Optus Mobile TV can be accessed via a free application and offers subscribers over 25 television channels without metering charges. The service also provides access to ABC and SBS catch-up services free of metering charges.

Vodafone’s Mobile TV service is similar to Optus’s, with the management and delivery of content outsourced to MIA, which provides the digital platform that manages the hosting and delivery of content.⁴⁹ Vodafone provides post-paid and pre-paid versions of its mobile TV pack, with charges approximately double for pre-paid customers.⁵⁰

Table Selected mobile-specific OVC offerings of Australian mobile providers

Company	Service	Content	Revenue models	Platforms/devices	Cost to consumer	Business partnerships
Telstra	Mobile FOXTEL	Variety of local and international television programs. A mix of clips and television episodes split into clips is offered.	Subscriptions to content on a weekly or monthly basis to prepaid or post-paid Telstra customers.	iOS devices including iPads and iPhones, Android devices including tablets and smartphones.	FOXTEL app free to download. Service access costs from $2.00 prepaid for 16 channels for one week, to $20.00 on a plan (ultimate package+sport per month).	Content provided by FOXTEL exclusively to MobileNet customers .
Optus	Mobile TV	TV content, both international and domestic in origin available on demand.	Subscriptions to content on a daily or monthly basis.	iOS devices including iPads and iPhones, Android devices including tablets and smartphones.	TV and video app free to download. Access to programs from $1.00 per day or $3.00 per month. No data or download charges apply.	Content managed and delivered by MIA. ABC live and SBS live free to access.
Optus	TV Now (cancelled service)	FTA television broadcasts that could be watched ‘near-live’ or recorded to the cloud and watched later.	Users paid a monthly subscription fee for video file storage, but were not locked into a fixed-term contract. No data charges applied for Optus 3G when users are accessing TV services.	All mobile formats with the exception of Windows 7. Programs could be recorded and stored on the cloud.	Basic plan: gives 45 mins of storage to record shows on. This plan was available at no additional cost to all Optus 3G mobile subscribers. Standard plan: gives five hours of storage time for $6.99 per month. Premium plan: gives 20 hours of storage time for $9.99 per month.	NOTE: service cancelled.
VHA (Vodafone)	Mobile TV	TV content, both international and domestic in origin available on demand.	Subscription or PPV. Customers can view individual TV episodes for $2.00 or subscribe to a channel on a per day or per month basis.	iOS and Android devices using U2100 MHz and U850 MHz.	Access for post-paid customers: $2.00 per episode, channels from $2.00 per day or $4.00 per month. Access to all channels $8.00 per month. Charges approx. double for pre-paid.	Content managed and delivered by MIA.

Source: Provider websites at 25 September 2012.

Directory: media -> Research%20and%20Analysis -> Publication -> Comms%20Report%202011%2012 -> Word
Word -> Communications report 2011–12 series Report 3—Smartphones and tablets
Publication -> Report 3—The emerging mobile telecommunications service market in Australia
Research%20and%20Analysis -> 5G and mobile network developments— Emerging issues
Research%20and%20Analysis -> Chapter 1 Broadband services
Research%20and%20Analysis -> Communications report 2013–14 series Report 2— The evolution of Voip in Australia June 2015 Canberra
Research%20and%20Analysis -> Communications report 2011–12 series Report 3—Smartphones and tablets

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