MFD Mobiles Fernsehen Deutschland GmbH and NEVA Media GmbH have agreed to establish a joint venture to introduce mobile television in Germany. By joining forces, the former competitors for broadcasting licences aim to secure the launch of mobile TV via the DVB-H transmission standard in Germany in 2008.
Three major media groups stand behind the two mobile-TV specialists. Publishing companies Hubert Burda Media and Holtzbrinck hold stakes in NEVA Media, while international media and technology group Naspers is the strategic investor behind MFD Mobiles Fernsehen Deutschland. All shareholders approved the cooperation.
The venture is intended to combine media and technology expertise while retaining its independence. Dr Paul-Bernhard Kallen, Executive Board member for Technology & Treasury at Hubert Burda Media, said: “The joint venture sees itself as a neutral platform operator whose services are open to all programme providers and telecommunications companies.”
Both companies are targeting a rapid and successful market launch for DVB-H. “We want to launch mobile TV via DVB-H successfully together by Euro 2008 at the latest,” said Henrik Rinnert, Managing Director of MFD Mobiles Fernsehen Deutschland.
Paulus Neef, Managing Director of NEVA Media GmbH, said: “The cooperation brings enormous advantages for the development of mobile television in Germany. It strengthens expertise and reliability in platform operation as well as the diversity of the content offering.”
The companies have already applied for the broadcasting licences required to operate the platform. Germany’s state media authorities put the licences for DVB-H mobile-TV transmission out to tender in spring 2007, with allocation expected later in the year.
