Mobile TV before the launch
Bruno Bucher, the founder of Mobile TV Schweiz, has reached an agreement with Swisscom. His product, MoTV, has a good chance of going on the air. The creators are well aware that cell phone users have different characteristics than regular TV viewers.
Bruno Bucher, the founder of Mobile TV Switzerland, has reached an agreement with Swisscom. His product MoTV has a good chance of going on air. For the creators, it is clear that cell phone users follow a different profile than normal TV users. "We want to make mobile television, that is still our objective," says Bruno Bucher, the nimble Biel-based founder of Mobile TV Switzerland. Swisscom Broadcast was recently awarded the contract by Bakom to set up a network for mobile TV. Bucher was rebuffed with his model of producing customized TV content for the mobile network and considered fighting for access to the new mobile network via the competition authorities. In the meantime, however, the parties have entered into talks and Bucher has decided not to lodge a complaint, which would make neither strategic nor business ethical sense. "We expect Swisscom Broadcast to set up a network of 20 transmitters. We also want to be one of them on this DVBH platform," says Bucher.
With his product MoTV, the Biel-based company sees itself as a program maker for mouse cinema and wants to produce audiovisual content. A normal television station with its programs is not always suitable for mobile distribution. Although the ball of a football match, for example, is recognizable, it is no longer legible when it comes to the players' numbers. For Bucher, it is clear that cell phone users follow a different profile than normal TV users. The first prime time for his broadcasting concept is between 6.30 a.m. and 7.30 a.m., when people travel to work on public transport.
In principle, the role of program maker is not the task of the network provider, says Bucher. That's why he and his company are taking on a new role. "We are now helping the operators to do the job," he says. The tense situation between him and Swisscom Broadcast has eased. A memorandum of understanding has just been signed with Swisscom Broadcast, Sunrise and Orange. The focus is on the joint development of a first transmission channel for mobile television.
René Worni
With his product MoTV, the Biel-based company sees itself as a program maker for mouse cinema and wants to produce audiovisual content. A normal television station with its programs is not always suitable for mobile distribution. Although the ball of a football match, for example, is recognizable, it is no longer legible when it comes to the players' numbers. For Bucher, it is clear that cell phone users follow a different profile than normal TV users. The first prime time for his broadcasting concept is between 6.30 a.m. and 7.30 a.m., when people travel to work on public transport.
In principle, the role of program maker is not the task of the network provider, says Bucher. That's why he and his company are taking on a new role. "We are now helping the operators to do the job," he says. The tense situation between him and Swisscom Broadcast has eased. A memorandum of understanding has just been signed with Swisscom Broadcast, Sunrise and Orange. The focus is on the joint development of a first transmission channel for mobile television.
René Worni
