TV channels and not mobile telephony companies should be responsible for the funding of mobile TV distribution. In an interview with Les Echos, Canal+ chief Bertrand Meheut said that TV channels should pay for the network in the same way they fund the distribution of traditional television.
“’If mobile phone operators pay for the network, they will demand in exchange a substantial part of the payment made by the customer. Certain TV channels are susceptible to the siren calls of the mobile phone operators because they don’t want to pay, but they should be well aware of the risks, he said.
Mehut is trying to persuade his fellow channel heads to adopt a model that would reduce the cost of distribution to an annual €3 million per channel.