Streamed Mobile TV Usage on the Rise

HAMPSHIRE: The number of streamed mobile TV users on smartphones is expected to reach 240 million by 2014, according to a new report from Juniper Research.

A rise in smartphone penetration will contribute to the gains, along with growth in usage of Internet TV and IPTV services. Another factor in the growth is the need for consumers to be able to access time-critical content, including sports and news.

By 2016, nearly 10 percent of mobile TV revenues will be generated on tablet devices. Usage of broadcast mobile TV are found to be minimal outside of the Far East and China. Subscriptions are also expected to make up the lion’s share of mobile TV revenues.

Charlotte Miller, the author of the report, said, "The smartphone really allows the consumer to transport the TV experience out of the home, allowing them to view live and on-demand content while on the move. The ubiquity of free WiFi also allows users of these services to access content without the threat of billshock—driving take up of streamed mobile TV services across all WiFi-enabled mobile devices."