BBC News 24 will become available on 3G mobile phones as part of a year-long trial announced today by the BBC.
The
project, which will begin within a month and last up to a year, will
make a number of BBC television and radio channels available on 3G
mobile phones with mobile operators Orange, Vodafone and 3.
In
addition to News 24, the trial, announced today at the Broadcast Mobile
TV Congress, will also BBC One and BBC Three, along radio programming
from Radio 1, 1Xtra, Radio 2, Radio 3, Radio 4, 6 Music, BBC 7 and
Asian Network.
BBC director of future media and technology
Ashley Highfield said: "By making a range of television channels and
radio networks available to 3G mobile phone subscribers, we hope to
test not only the effectiveness of 3G as a means of distribution, but
also how audiences respond to the BBC's linear services on their
mobiles.
"The findings, combined with quantitative and qualitative consumer research, will inform the BBC's future mobile strategy."
Richard
Halton, BBC controller of business strategy told the Congress: "The
mobile platform is a great opportunity for us to reach existing users
in a new way and connect better with people who are not currently big
users of the BBC.
"The BBC believes that mobile content is an
important part of the broadcasting landscape and is looking at ways in
which mobile devices will shape services of the future for licence fee
payers.
"To this end, the BBC will be undertaking extensive and
unique research into consumer behaviour and experience throughout the
3G mobile syndication trial. To date we have done relatively little
consumer research in this area, and it will provide us with a detailed
insight into consumer behaviour."
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