We've yet to see mobile television really take off, despite the attempts of several companies to make mobile TV services popular. However, it looks like MetroPCS is ready to give mobile TV another go, as the carrier announced today that it's teaming up the Mobile Content Venture to offer the Dyle Mobile TV service later this year. Dyle Mobile TV features content from the likes of NBC, FOX, Ion and Telemundo and will offer live and local broadcasts, including commercials. The service will be offered in 14 major MetroPCS markets, including New York City, Los Angeles, and Detroit, and the number of channels available will vary depending on the market. As far as launch details go, MetroPCS didn't mention precisely when the Dyle Mobile TV would launch or how much it'll cost, but Dyle co-general manager Salil Dalvi told PCMag that Dyle will be free in 2012.
So what device(s) will you be using to access Dyle Mobile TV on MetroPCS? The carrier announced that it'll be launching a "premium Android device" made by Samsung that will feature Dyle's service thanks to the inclusion of ATSC-Mobile tech. MetroPCS touched on the handset a bit further with PCMag, saying that the Samsung product will feature 4G LTE connectivity and a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, as well as an extendable antenna. The smartphone is due to launch sometime later this year with a "premium" price. An RCA spokesman also said that the company will be launching a standalone Android tablet that'll feature a 7-inch display and support for Dyle, but that it won't feature access to the Android Market. The RCA tablet is said to be coming later this year and will be shown off at CES.
It's interesting to see MetroPCS decide to take a chance on mobile TV even though we've yet to see such a service really catch on. Whether or not MetroPCS will finally be able to get things going with Dyle Mobile TV and this mysterious Samsung handset remains to be seen, but the good news is that Metro, MCV and Samsung will be demoing the Dyle service at CES next week, which we at PhoneDog will also be making an appearance at. What do you all make of MetroPCS and Dyle TV so far? Is mobile TV something you think you may be interested in?
MetroPCS Partners with Mobile Content Venture to Bring Live Digital Television to Mobile Phones via Dyle™ Mobile TV Service
Samsung Mobile to Supply First Live Mobile TV-Enabled Smartphone with Dyle™ Mobile TV
DALLAS, NEW YORK AND LOS ANGELES – (January 4, 2012) – MetroPCS Communications, Inc. (NYSE: PCS) and the Mobile Content Venture (MCV) today announced that they are partnering to enable
MetroPCS customers to watch live, local broadcast television on their mobile phones later this year. MetroPCS will be the first wireless service provider to offer Dyle Mobile TV to consumers on devices that are pre-loaded with the Dyle application, enabling customers to watch live TV right out of the box. Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) will provide the first smartphone with Dyle, a premium Android device, using ATSC-Mobile technology.
"We're excited to be the first mobile service provider to deliver a unique entertainment offering like Dyle, but more important than being first is our belief that this service will meet the needs of our customers and deliver an exceptional mobile experience," said Tom Keys, president and chief operating officer of MetroPCS. "We know that our customers have a desire to take entertainment with them wherever they go and understand that they want premium services at an incredible value, which we will continue offering by supplying services like Dyle."
Dyle Mobile TV is the consumer-facing brand launched by MCV that will deliver live mobile television content from 15 major broadcast groups including Pearl LLC (Belo Corp., Cox Media Group, E.W. Scripps Co., Gannett Broadcasting, Hearst Television Inc., Media General Inc., Meredith Corp., Post-Newsweek Stations Inc. and Raycom Media) as well as FOX, ION Television, Bahakel, Univision, Telemundo and NBC. At launch, MCV expects to offer the mobile video service on more than 72 stations in 32 markets covering more than 50 percent of the U.S. population.
"We are thrilled to work with MetroPCS to make live broadcast TV available to mobile consumers," Salil Dalvi and Erik Moreno, co-general managers of MCV said in a joint statement. "This collaboration allows Dyle to take the first step in realizing the broadcaster vision of live, local TV on every smartphone."
"MetroPCS is bringing a unique entertainment service, allowing users to do more on the go," said Dale Sohn, president of Samsung Mobile. "We're thrilled to launch the first smartphone with Dyle, providing the ultimate entertainment experience on a Samsung device."
Dyle will enable mobile consumers, for the first time, to watch live national and local news, sports, and entertainment programming via a broadcast television signal. Consumers will be able to enjoy the local nightly news on the bus, their favorite daytime talk show on their lunch break or live sporting events while running errands. Samsung smartphones with Dyle will be available later this year in MetroPCS markets and surrounding areas including: Atlanta, Ga.; Boston, Mass.; Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas; Detroit, Mich.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Los Angeles, Calif.; Miami, Fla.; New York, N.Y.; Orlando, Fla.; Philadelphia, Pa.; Sacramento, Calif.; San Francisco, Calif.; and Tampa, Fla.
MetroPCS, MCV and Samsung Mobile will be demonstrating Dyle live mobile digital television service next week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on January 10-13.
For more information, please visit:
Details on MetroPCS rate plans and service features: www.metropcs.com/plans
MetroPCS Terms and Conditions of Service: www.metropcs.com/privacy/terms.aspx
MetroPCS press resources: www.metropcs.com/presscenter
Follow MetroPCS on Twitter: www.twitter.com/metropcs
Become a fan of MetroPCS on Facebook: www.facebook.com/metropcs
View MetroPCS' latest videos: www.YouTube.com/metropcs
For more information on Mobile Content Venture: http://www.themcv.com/
Follow Dyle on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@DyleMobileTV
For press inquires on MCV or Dyle: DylePRteam@horngroup.com
About MetroPCS Communications, Inc.
Dallas-based MetroPCS Communications, Inc. (NYSE: PCS) is a provider of no annual contract, unlimited wireless communications service for a flat-rate. MetroPCS is the fifth largest facilities-based wireless carrier in the United States based on number of subscribers served. With Metro USA(SM), MetroPCS customers can use their service in areas throughout the United States covering a population of over 280 million people. As of September 30, 2011, MetroPCS had over 9.1 million subscribers. For more information please visit www.metropcs.com.>
About Mobile Content Venture
Mobile Content Venture (MCV) is a joint-venture comprising 12 major broadcast groups, including Belo Corp., Cox Media Group, E.W. Scripps Co., Gannett Broadcasting, Hearst Television Inc., Media General Inc., Meredith Corp., Post-Newsweek Stations Inc. and Raycom Media, all of which are part of the standalone entity known as Pearl Mobile DTV, LLC, as well as Fox, ION Television, and NBC. MCV aims to facilitate the development of a new national mobile digital television service by utilizing existing broadcast spectrum to enable member companies to deliver content to mobile devices, including live and on-demand video, local and national news from print and electronic sources, as well as sports and entertainment programming.
About Samsung Telecommunications America
Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsungwireless.com.
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2009 consolidated sales of US$116.8 billion. Employing approximately 188,000 people in 185 offices across 65 countries, the company consists of eight independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Digital Imaging, Semiconductor and LCD. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.
Via PCMag
