Told you so. Several times, too. Almost 90% of mobile phone users are interested in viewing live local news programming on their handsets, and 47% are likely to buy handsets with mobile TV, according to study by Magid Media Labs in partnership with the Open Mobile Video Coalition. It got responses from more than 1,000 US consumers, ages 18 to 59.
Some 88% showed interest in news on mobile devices; 47% said they are likely to consider purchasing a mobile device that allows them to watch live television; 51% said they want live programming as opposed to 18%, who said they wanted video on-demand.
Additionally 65% said they’d watch entertainment content; 44% wanted to see sports; 76% wanted emergency reports; 75% wanted weather conditions and forecasts.
Most said they’d watch mobile TV at work and while commuting. We assume, perhaps incorrectly, that they wouldn’t be driving. Of those with children, 31% said they’d let the kids watch while in the car, and 10% said they’d let the kids watch it at home.
As to the business plan, 36% said they would consider paying for mobile television, and 49% said they would watch commercials on their devices.
We still remember but can’t quickly locate the UK study that was conducted among actual mobile TV users. Their number one place for watching TV on their cell phones was at home; the number one place in the home was the bedroom.