According to data from Mediamark Research & Intelligence (MRI), more than one-fifth of US mobile phone or PDA users are interested in watching live TV on their mobile device.

Respondents to the research firm’s “Survey of the American Consumer” were even more likely to be interested in watching mobile TV if they indicated that they viewed their mobile device as a source of entertainment—46.9% of such consumers said so.

When it came to paying for mobile TV services, however, consumers were markedly less enthusiastic. Only 13.5% of all respondents said they would pay a subscription fee for mobile TV, and even among respondents who said mobile was a source of entertainment, the figure was just 34.5%. In addition, more than 70% of respondents found ads on mobile phones and PDAs annoying, though some were willing to view them in exchange for lower monthly costs.

The “Mobile Video Equipment, Phones, Services, and Subscribers” report from Infonetics Research predicts 397 million mobile video phones will be sold worldwide in 2013. But the research firm is likewise not optimistic about adoption of pay-TV services.

“A combination of poor macroeconomic conditions, sub par 3G network coverage for streamed video services, and pricing that puts mobile video services out of reach for many consumers is contributing to the lackluster growth of mobile video services around the world,” said Jeff Heynen, directing analyst for broadband and video at Infonetics Research. “While mobile video services are expected to eventually grow significantly, until operators can combine broadcast, on-demand, and sideloading, revenue will remain a drop in the bucket of overall mobile service revenue.”

Pyramid Research put paid mobile video subscribers at just 2.5% of total mobile subscribers worldwide in 2008. That figure is expected to increase to 8.5% by 2014.

Paid Mobile Video Subscribers Worldwide, 2008 & 2014 (% of total mobile subscribers)

Mobile TV Middle East is scheduled to be held on 15th and 16th November in Dubai. Do check it out if you get a chance. I am sure lot of doubts will be cleared in the conference.

Do check it out.

Source: emarketer