Mobile Video: Paradigm Shift or Parlor Trick?

While mobile video is enjoying strong interest from content providers weeks after Verizon Wireless announced plans for a nationwide service with full time video programming, speakers at the Future TV 2007 conference worked to put the value of mobile video in big-picture perspective.

“I think it’s a huge improvement from where we are with [wireless video] today,” said Caleb Weinstein, senior vice-president of strategy and development at Comedy Central/Spike/TV Land, when asked if his company viewed it as a paradigm shift or a parlor trick. The executive refused to describe it as the former.

Weinstein’s company, along with CBS Corp. and others, have agreed to provide compelling content around the clock as part of Verizon Wireless’ planned mobile video offering, which will use Qualcomm Inc. subsidiary’s MediaFLO network and specially designed handsets.

“We see it as a long-term paradigm shift,” claimed Lisa Hsai, senior vice-president of new media for Bravo, NBC Universal, another content provider for the Verizon service. She didn’t elaborate, saying that she has yet to see pricing for the planned offering, which will play a key role in its success.

Terry Denson, vice-president of programming and marketing for Verizon, the wire line player, is excited about the prospects for mobile video. “It’s certainly a paradigm shift that allows users to take advantage of occasional viewing. It allows people to be with their friends and family and check video without leaving the physical community. That will result in a paradigm shift.”

Most executives agreed that mobile video represents a paradigm shift of some type. No one indicated they thought it was a parlor trick or in any way short of a via means to delivery content.

Todd Herman, general manager of global media strategy at Microsoft Corp.’s MSN unit, agreed with Denson. “With mobile, the hours of TV viewing will increase,” he predicted. “It’s a paradigm shift. [Folks] will be watching TV on the subway.”

CBS Corp. www.cbs.com  

Comedy Central www.comedycentral.com  

MSN www.msn.com, www.microsoft.com  

Qualcomm Inc. www.qualcomm.com  

NBC Corp. www.nbc.com

Verizon Communications Inc. www.verizon.com

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