GfK finds more users tuning into mobile TV

According to the study, most of these subscribers watch mobile TV for less than half an hour at any one time, with 38 per cent claiming their typical viewing is longer than 20 minutes.

More than half of respondents said they signed up to mobile TV to "have something to do during downtime". Meanwhile, 18 per cent said the main reason for acquiring mobile TV was "to watch a programme when away from my main TV", while 10 per cent said it was to "catch a particular programme".

Colin Strong, director of GfK Technology, said the findings were "encouraging" and they demonstrated a growing market for mobile TV services.

"As a time-filler, the proposition of mobile TV is a good one, but it is a vulnerable position to have as there are plenty of other activities that can become time-fillers. Tapping into the drivers for TV has much more potential for growing the market."

The study found news and weather, sport and music videos were the most popular forms of mobile TV, attracting 65 per cent, 56 per cent and 46 per cent of users respectively.

Technology consultancy Strategy Analytics predicts there will be 50 million mobile TV users by 2009, generating revenue of about £3.5 billion for operators.

This article was first published on revolutionmagazine.com