AT&T Mobility will launch Qualcomm’s MediaFLO mobile TV service on February 5, a few months later than it had originally said. Competitor Verizon Wireless has been deploying the MediaFLO service since March 2007 in a number of cities.
AT&T plans to offer eight live, traditional TV channels plus two exclusive channels that Verizon Wireless does not carry. The eight channels will include CBS Mobile, Comedy Central, ESPN Mobile TV, Fox Mobile, MTV, NBC News 2Go, NBC 2Go and Nickelodeon. Sources say the two exclusive channels may contain a mix of content from various producers and one time events such as sports, concerts and the like.
MediaFLO technology can support up to 20 linear TV channels plus other services such as audio. MediaFLO’s network currently covers 48 markets. AT&T promises its mobile TV service will cover 53 markets and 129 million people.
Separately Qualcomm this week filed a proxy statement with the SEC that reported a $240 million loss on its MediaFLO mobile TV technology for fiscal 2007. Qualcomm Strategic Initiatives, which has the MediaFLO operations, reported a 2006 loss of $133 million. The company said the loss included a $118 million increase in MediaFLO USA’s loss, comprised primarily of $70 million in cost of services revenues related to the commencement of MediaFLO in March 2007 and a $42 million increase in selling, general and administrative expenses. It included a $20 million expenditure related to cooperative marketing expenses.