ROK TV Provides Video-on-Demand over 2.5G GPRS

The UK-based company, ROK Entertainment Group, announced the introduction of the world`s first video-on-demand (VOD) mobile TV service streamed over 2.5G GPRS. The service is now available on ROK TV.

"Given that viewers only have the opportunity to watch TV on their mobiles for a few minutes at a time, we believe most people will be reluctant to pay anything more than a token amount to receive full-length broadcast TV on their mobiles," said Jonathan Kendrick, Chairman and CEO, ROK Entertainment Group "and that's why we have not only made mobile TV available over mass-market 2.5G GPRS, rather than just over 3G networks, but have also enhanced the viewing experience by making the non-live channels truly VOD".

With Mobile TV set to become a multi-billion dollar industry worldwide over the next 5 years, there are two distinct technologies set to compete for the market: full-form broadcast TV delivered via DVB-H, MediaFLO or DAB and the delivery of unicast mobile TV streamed to mobiles over existing networks. "As mobile TV is usually watched for just a few minutes at a time, the content available must not only be instantly engaging to the viewer but should also allow the viewer to choose what they want to watch when they want to watch it," added Kendrick "and that's exactly what we've now achieved with ROK TV." The VOD facility on the non-live channels offered by ROK allows the viewer to fast-forward, pause and rewind the content.

ROK TV is currently being deployed to 30 selected Mobile Network Operators worldwide with the most recent service launches being with AIS in Thailand and with Telenor in Pakistan. ROK TV is available as a subscription service from ROK TV and is priced at £0.99 per channel per month or for £9.99 per month for all 22 channels with the first 2 months free. Aimed at those people with a data package already included in their mobile tariff, ROK TV offers channels such as Fox News, ITN, National Geographic, Fifth Gear, Popworld, Sports News Television, Xtreme Sports, Reality TV and the made-for-mobile channel, Monkey News Network.