The mobile TV service is going to be launched in India soon and the mobile consumers are desperate to know the features of this new service and its advantages in their daily life and business. Mobile is speedily emerging as a new medium of entertainment in the country. The development of mobile TV would threaten traditional medium of entertainment ie TV in coming days. The growth of mobile TV would cause paradigm shift for TV buffs to mobile TV.

Mobile TV, a combination of the technologies of television and mobile telephony, makes high quality television content available on the mobile screen. Mobile TV is a recent phenomenon in India but other countries such as Japan and Korea have been quickly deployed new services. South Korea has even started broadcast mobile TV service in the country.

According to Juniper Research, Japan, the US and South Korea are likely to comprise 39% of the projected $11.7 billion global broadcast mobile TV subscriber market. On the other hand, Germany, Italy, UK, India and China would account for 36% market by 2011.

The mobile TV would provide the users the placed bound contents anytime any place. One can watch TV at the home or occasionally in a restaurant or sports bar by sharing with other family members. The Mobile TV would end the fight for remote control in the TV rooms. Mobile TV would enable moving people with the most personal experience of viewing content anytime any place.

Indian market has the great potential for the growth of mobile TV with total mobile subscriber base of 232.87 million. It is likely to grow to more than 500 million mobile connections by 2010. Mobile use has become habit of most of the Indians at present. The debut of mobile TV in India is a natural succession in technological innovation.

India ranks fourth in global wireless penetration. Indians are increasingly looking at their mobile handsets as an ‘all-purpose’ device. This is the clear indication of the future success of mobile TV in the country. However, India will have to accomplish several hurdles to be raedy to accept the mobile TV service in the country.

Terrestrial broadcasting for mobile TV services will have to be opened up for open participation. The government will have to open the terrestrial video broadcasting sector that is limited to the Doordarshan at present. It would make cable companies, broadcasters, mobile operators and others able to transmit video signals to consumers through their mobile sets.

The private companies will have to reduce the rates of compatible handsets in India because affordability is a significant factor for any technology to succeed in any market. In US, mobile TV capable devices are being sold at less than $250 now.