With a few developments in recent times, Nigeria is still setting the pace in technological developments in Africa and indeed the Middle East and African emerging markets. This is as Nigeria can now join a few other countries of the world to provide its citizens the opportunity of watching the 2010 World Cup LIVE broadcasts on their cell phones.
This opportunity was facilitated by a recent partnership between DStv Mobile, Nokia and MTN Nigeria to push the boundaries of entertainment by making compelling live TV available to Nigerians on their mobile devices.
Announcing the partnership last week in Lagos Nigeria, the partners said that with the launch of the Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition, Nigerians would be able to watch 3 LIVE Super Sport channels and all the sporting action in the palm of their hands.
The deal means that Super Sport, the exclusive pay tv broadcasters of the World Cup will now be seen on an additional platform apart from the traditional television space.
The interesting aspect of this offering is that it would provide solution to the awkward broadcast times of the world cup games, as most games would be played when Nigerians are either in their offices, work or in traffic. However, the DStv Mobile runs only on MTN network.
The Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition is an entertainment hub that combines mobile broadcast TV (DVB-H), social networking, music and gaming in a compact 3G device.
The partners said the desire to team up in providing the mobile tv was fuelled by the rise of mobile broadcast TV consumption and the forecast that by 2012 there would be over 300 million people worldwide watching TV on their mobile phones. For instance, General Manager, DStv Mobile, Mr Mayo Okunola, noted that "Africa is making waves in the new and exciting area of Mobile tv and Nigeria is leading the way. We at DStv Mobile strongly believe in the importance of mobile television in the Nigerian market and the effect our success will have on the global stage."
Also, the General Manager, Consumer marketing, MTN Nigeria Kola Oyeyemi, added that "MTN as the first and only African Global sponsor of the world's biggest football event; FIFA 2010 is not leaving any stone unturned in its quest to enrich the lives of its customers via the promotion of their passion for football. In this regard, MTN is bringing the pleasures, intrigues, surprises and fun associated with the best of world class football from the South of Africa to her teeming customers while on the go".
MTN has consistently blazed the trail in innovations that add value and enrich the lives of her customers. This new service is a further reinforcement of our innovation leadership status in the telecom industry and it joins the leagues of many "firsts" from MTN like Google SMS, MTN Back Up, MTN Video cam e.t.c
Corroborating his fellow partners, Nokia West Africa General Manager, Mr Phillip de la Vega, said that enhancing the daily lives of Nigerians was at the heart of the partnership.
According to him, "the introduction of the Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition responds to the arrival of DVB_H broadcast mobile TV networks in new markets, including Nigeria , and offers an affordable device for new and existing customers alike. Customers are increasingly watching a variety of programmes on their mobiles for a longer period of time.
The Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition has the sound and image quality to hold audiences captive, and we are excited to be here today, together with MTN Nigeria and DStv Mobile, to bring this exciting package to Nigerian consumers".
DStv Mobile is broadcast on a dedicated network. This service differs from mobile tv streaming and so, as many people as possible can watch DStv mobile at the same time without dropping the picture and audio quality. This also means that viewers will not be using their credit when they watch live TV on their phone. DStv Mobile announced that apart from the cost of acquiring the mobile phone, the service runs free of charge till April 2011.
The DStv Mobile service is currently available in Lagos , Abuja , Ibadan , Port Harcourt , Aba , Asaba, Enugu , Onitsha , Benin City and Kaduna .
Vanguard
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