Digita and SBS Finland made an agreement on commercial DVB-H mobile television network service
SBS Finland Oy and Digita, the leading Finnish distributor of radio and television services, made an agreement on the first commercial service in the DVB-H-based mobile television network. The mobile television combines the services of two different networks, that is, the DVB-H television network and mobile network, to the same terminal. Thus, mobile television will permit offering interactive services from the very beginning. SBS Finland Oy is the first content creator for the mobile television network. In addition to broadcasting digital radio broadcasts, the DVB-H radio offers for viewing different kinds of content related to programmes, such as information on programmes and channels, further information on artists and interactive sections such as competitions and opinion polls.
”Finland is a highly advanced country in terms of technology, and now we are among the first countries to introduce a commercial mobile television network. Digita wants to enable and promote the implementation of new services in Finland, whereas SBS Finland was the first to make an agreement on mobile television network services. The five-year agreement shows that SBS Finland wants to be the forerunner of the new service and has strong faith in new technology,” says Managing Director Sirpa Ojala from Digita.
See what you hear
According to Managing Director Leena Ryynänen from SBS Finland Oy, KISS has been a pioneer in the Finnish radio business in many ways. ”We were the first radio company in the world to start Visual Radio broadcasting, we were among the first to test the DVB-H as a digital radio distribution platform and we have broadcast KISS in the digital television network for a long time. SBS will continue being the forerunner and will be the first Finnish media company to offer content in the DVB-H network.”
”The new service allows the listeners to enjoy digital sound quality and profit more of listening to the radio. The listeners will no longer have to wonder what song is played, because they can easily check the information using their mobile phone,” says Ms. Ryynänen.
Network in use from the beginning of December
Digita, as the network operator, will be responsible for the broadcasting network made using the DVB-H technology (Digital Video Broadcasting Handheld) and for the administration of channels in the network. Digita will rollout the network as a terrestrial digital mass communication network for one multiplex for mobile television operations.
The first stage of network rollout will cover an extensive area in the Helsinki region, as well as the regions of Turku and Oulu. As commercial operations are launched in the beginning of December 2006, the network already covers over 25 percent of people living in Finland. Network in the Tampere region will be opened after the analogous network is closed on 1 September 2007, after which the mobile television network covers as much as 32 percent of the Finnish population. In a year, that is, at the beginning of December 2007, the coverage will be 40 percent.
Content creators will be able to broadcast their programmes in the mobile television network from the beginning of December 2007, when the first terminals will also become available for consumers. For end-users, the services of the new network offer television and radio broadcasts, games and interactive services, to name but a few.
Pilots followed by the commercial stage
Digita has participated in a pilot project carried out in co-operation between several companies. The pilot tested the attractiveness of mobile television, and the experiences gained were positive. Consumers were interested in the services of the network and they were also willing to pay for them. Digita also participates in the Forum Virium Helsinki project: a joint effort of numerous operators to develop digital services and contents for the mobile television network.
Last autumn, SBS Finland carried out its own pilot project to examine the possibility to use the DVB-H technology as a digital radio broadcasting platform. SBS successfully utilised the DVB-H technology to broadcast digital radio transmissions, image material, music videos and interviews of artists.
Digita / Communications
Digita Oy is the leading Finnish distributor of radio and television services, and an important developer of data communication networks and network infrastructure. Digita’s nationwide organisation ensures the high quality of services 24 hours a day. Digita’s customers include television and radio broadcasting companies, as well as mobile and broadband operators. The company’s turnover was 97 million euros in 2005 and it employs 380 people. Digita is part of the international TDF Group.