CSMBC promoting CMMB mobile TV with special subscription fee
Shanghai. August 27. INTERFAX-CHINA - China Satellite Mobile Broadcasting Corp. (CSMBC), the national operator of CMMB (China Mobile Multimedia Broadcasting) mobile TV, announced on Aug. 26 a special subscription fee with the aim of increasing its user base across the country.
The purchase of a CMMB mobile TV terminal through CSMBC and a flat fee of RMB 36 ($5.27) will give subscribers access until the end of June 2010 to seven CMMB channels, including CSMBC's new self-developed channel that will be launched on a trial basis in the fourth quarter. In addition, subscribers in 10 cities can also use its new navigation service that will be available in September as part of the package.
Starting from July 1, 2010, all regional licensed operators will be encouraged to fix the standard monthly subscription fee at RMB 12 ($1.76), according to the CSMBC announcement.
CSMBC said that it has already established an online customer service center and a customer hotline for after sales support. It offers over 200 CMMB TV terminal models manufactured by 23 mobile device makers.
Currently, 191 cities are covered under the CMMB mobile TV signal and a total of 337 cities will be included in the network by the end of 2009, according to the announcement.
Interfax reported on Aug. 24 that Shanghai Handy TV Co. Ltd., the exclusive operator of CMMB mobile TV in Shanghai, is in the process of conducting internal tests on its navigation services.
-HJL