Doordarshan launches mobile TV on cellphones

Doordarshan has launched mobile TV on cell phones and has commenced the beaming of eight channels. These channels are available within the radius of 10 to 12 kilometres from Akashvani Bhawan, Parliament Street, New Delhi, on the digital video broadcasting-handheld (DVB-H) compliant mobile handsets. The channels currently being beamed are DD National, DD News, DD Sports, DD Bharati, DD Urdu, DD Punjabi, DD Bangla and DD Podhigai.

The service, which will be available from 5.30 am to 12 pm, will be available without any billing by any mobile service provider.

Mobile phone majors such as Nokia and Samsung have already announced their launch of DVB-H compliant handsets. At present, such handsets cost around Rs 35,000, and DD is hoping that mobile phone companies would also bring out low cost handsets, priced at around Rs 18,000.

Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, and Parliamentary Affairs, inaugurated mobile TV. The service will be expanded to 16 channels within six to eight months. After covering the entire Capital, the service will be taken to other metros within 18 months.