Media Guardian: TV on mobiles proves a turn-off
When it comes to mobile phones, I'm a bit of a luddite. Mine gets used about once a week, primarily for sending text messages. So watching TV via my handset hasn't exactly been on my radar.
However last week, I got the chance to see it in action via a friends phone which is hooked up to Vodafone Live.
In conjunction with Sky, the company is now providing a plethora of subscription channels, piped direct to your phone. Sky News, Discovery, HBO and even something called Chilli Extreme.
All that piped down to your mobile phone and displayed on a 5cm screen.
To say I was underwhelmed is probably an understatement. For starters, the picture quality was appalling, reminding me at once of the kind of video clips you used to get on the internet about ten years ago - tiny and very blurry. And what if you go into a tunnel? Personally I have enough trouble with phone reception just making calls. Try to watch TV in those conditions? No ta.
Now me, I'm a natural cynic when it comes to technology, but the news today that 70% of people have no desire to watch TV via their phone, doesn't exactly come as any surprise to me. Why would you? Even if the picture was pin sharp, there's still an issue of screen size to contend with.
Given that people seem to be buying bigger and bigger TVs at every opportunity, that HD is believed by some to be the next 'big' thing, you have to ask why people would suddenly want to downsize to a tiny screen, where you're likely to lose a signal at the drop of a hat!
I can see it now. "And we have some breaking news coming into us at the Sky News Centre. But you won't be able to know what it is, cos you're about to drive into the Mersey tunnel. See you in five when the ads are on."
