Japan Launches Digital TV on Cellphones

This is the week when mobile television may start to take off. On Saturday, Japan began watching digital television on cell phones in a highly anticipated service that could lead to a new genre of TV programs.

Japan is the latest country using the technology known as “One Segment,” although South Korea has had the service since the end of 2005. Handsets have been available in Japan for the past few weeks that are equipped with the service, which can also be used to broadcast shows onto laptops, high-end computers and other types of terminals.

Currently, the service is free and programming is the same as on home televisions as mobile operators examine whether One Seg will prove to be popular.

“In the short-term, digital terrestrial broadcasting on mobiles with the same programming as normal televisions will be of little interest for us, but we are getting ready by preparing new specific content for the service that could come into use later when new channels are available,” said Masao Nakamura, CEO of Japan’s top mobile operator NTT DoCoMo.

So far, mobile operators have set up agreements with TV networks to develop the service. Subscribers will be able to watch up to nearly three hours of uninterrupted television with a normal cellphone battery, as opposed to about an hour for current analog broadcasts which require more power.

“On a technical level, the service functions well. The image is of good quality,” said Pierre Mustiere, a specialist at the Japan International Technology and Strategy Experts.

This is the week when mobile television may start to take off. On Saturday, Japan began watching digital television on cell phones in a highly anticipated service that could lead to a new genre of TV programs.

Japan is the latest country using the technology known as “One Segment,” although South Korea has had the service since the end of 2005. Handsets have been available in Japan for the past few weeks that are equipped with the service, which can also be used to broadcast shows onto laptops, high-end computers and other types of terminals.

Currently, the service is free and programming is the same as on home televisions as mobile operators examine whether One Seg will prove to be popular.

“In the short-term, digital terrestrial broadcasting on mobiles with the same programming as normal televisions will be of little interest for us, but we are getting ready by preparing new specific content for the service that could come into use later when new channels are available,” said Masao Nakamura, CEO of Japan’s top mobile operator NTT DoCoMo.

So far, mobile operators have set up agreements with TV networks to develop the service. Subscribers will be able to watch up to nearly three hours of uninterrupted television with a normal cellphone battery, as opposed to about an hour for current analog broadcasts which require more power.

“On a technical level, the service functions well. The image is of good quality,” said Pierre Mustiere, a specialist at the Japan International Technology and Strategy Experts.