Broadcasters Turn To Mobile Tech

[icernet-admin at listserv.cddc.vt.edu]

A convergence of sorts is expected to happen with television channels
planning to use mobile technology to shore up the revenues. Broadcasters
such as Star India and Sony Entertainment Television (SET) are in the
process of tying up with various telecom service providers to generate
additional revenues using wireless technology such as SMS and phone votes.
And this initiative is expected to take off with the launch of two reality
shows - The Indian Superstar on Star Plus and Pop Idols on Sony - later this
year. According to sources in Star India, revenues from interactivity using
mobile phones would be the third income component to the broadcasting
business, apart from subscription and advertising earnings. Internationally,
viewers who wished to place a vote for any of the interactive shows on
television could do so via telephone or web by paying as little as a few
pence. In the UK, Pop Idols received 32 million phone votes throughout the
series - ranging between 0.5 million and nearly 9 million for the final
show. In the US, a record was set for mobile-orientated messages with
American Idols receiving 7.5 million messages during the series and as many
as 2.5 million on the last night.

 Source:
http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=13447223