Europe
: The first ever service that streams multi-channel TV programmers
direct to mass-market 2.5G mobile phones launches in Britain today.
People can now watch a variety of programmers on their mobiles, wherever
they are and whenever they want.
ROK TV will launch with a total of 10 channels initially, with live
TV channels CNN, ITN and Cartoon Network. The other channels are available
on a video-on-demand (VOD) basis and include music videos, comedies,
cartoons, weather and lifestyle channels - with more channels due
to be included in the coming weeks.
Using GPRS to transmit the television signal direct to the user’s
handset, ROK TV is not limited to just 3G customers - it’s available
on mass-market, 2.5G handsets as well as on 3G.
The service is available to play on a variety of Nokia handsets* initially
with other mobile devices being added soon. The images are streamed
to appear in wide screen so users simply turn their handsets on the
side to enjoy high quality audio and real-time images.
To subscribe to ROK, users log on to www.rok.tv to register, download
the application and can use the service straight away. There is a
free three-month trial period after which users pay £9.99 per
month.
“ROK TV is a massive break-through in streaming content to mobile
handsets. Mobile TV is a much-anticipated development in mobile phone
content: the networks want it, the channel owners and content owners
want it and research shows the public want it.” Said Jonathan
Kendrick, Chairman and CEO of ROK Entertainment.
“While many of the mobile networks have been developing TV for
their 3G customers only, we have concentrated on the delivery of high-quality
live TV to the much larger 2.5G market as well as 3G. Given that DVB-H
TV will not be available for several years yet – and only then
following vast investment in infrastructure and licenses - we are
offering a reliable and easy-to-use solution right here, right now,
to a much larger audience”.
ROK TV also plans to offer a pay-per-view service shortly to include
live sports and concerts and will be launching ROK TV in the United
States and in China before Christmas.
