(16 February 2009 9:00 pm)

MUMBAI: The approaching switchover to all-digital television broadcasting in the US and other countries will create an unprecedented opportunity for the mobile TV market, states a new study from ABI Research.

While mobile broadcast TV was pioneered in Japan and South Korea, following the switchover traditional and mobile TV broadcasters and cellular operators in many regions will launch mobile TV services that are expected to attract over 500 million viewers by 2013.

There is an important distinction to draw between content streamed to mobile handsets over cellular networks and free-to-air broadcasting to mobile devices equipped with mobile TV tuners.

ABI Research senior analyst Jeff Orr says, “Mobile TV users have yet to value the medium properly because it has not been validated as an independent product and service."

“It has been primarily offered at the end of a long list of more preferred cellular services. However, mobile TV will soon be positioned in a more proper role as an extension of traditional broadcast TV services,” Orr adds.

ABI Research believes that the timing of the market’s emergence is good. As 2009 progresses, signs of economic optimism may emerge and allow the fledgling industry to establish a foothold before the holiday shopping season.