The French transmitter company TDF has proposed a slimmed down version for a mobile TV service in order to jump start the new medium. At the moment, broadcasters and mobile operators are stuck in a gridlock over the business model.
As they are arguing about the division of the costs, TDF will finance the DVB-H transmitter network and pay part of the transmission costs. It has invited all parties involved and word has it that Orange, NextRadioTV (BFM TV) and Lagardère Active (Virgin 17) have already begun talks.
Part of the less ambitous plan is to launch the service in just Paris and five other cities instead of covering 15 cities as required by the CSA as part of the mobile TV licence.
Actual broadcasting could start in early 2010.
The stakeholders would meet with the Corporation for the launch of the Personal Mobile Television (Société pour le Lancement de la Télévision Mobile Personnelle; SLTMP) and co-finance the project.
