It's not TV so it's Nottv. The smartphone broadcaster aims to air shows with live commenting and send magazines and games to handsets. A subsidiary of NTT DoCoMo Inc. on Sunday 1st April began offering the first TV channels aimed exclusively at users of smartphone and tablet computers. Mmbi inc.'s Nottv service offers access to three channels of programming for ¥420 a month in the Tokyo and Osaka metropolitan areas and other locations.
Mmbi President Harunari Futatsugi said at a ceremony to mark the start of broadcasting in Tokyo's Roppongi district that Sunday was just the beginning. "We're still a small medium but will make this bigger," he said.
Mmbi, which provides dramas, live sports and news programs on its channels, plans to expand coverage nationwide, it said. Its parent, DoCoMo, is the nation's leading mobile phone service provider.
Mmbi, which provides dramas, live sports and news programs on its channels, plans to expand coverage nationwide, it said. Its parent, DoCoMo, is the nation's leading mobile phone service provider.
Japanese consumers have been able to watch conventional TV on their phones for years using the 1seg service. But Nottv will be the country's first dedicated smartphone TV channel. Nottv shows will make use of frequencies left vacant when the country officially switched to digital TV broadcasts earlier this year.
Programs will be around 10 minutes long to suit viewing on the go. Think of it as Twitterized TV. Users will be able to comment on shows live using the microblogging service and Facebook, and watch programs live or whenever they prefer.
Content will include newspapers, magazines, and video games. Nottv is pending government approval. The company was also introducing people to Notty, the channel's furry mascot, by giving out bags. He looks like the Cookie Monster's younger brother. The result was hundreds of Ceatec-goers walking around with mascot bags bearing the phrase "I'm notty."
(CNet)
Programs will be around 10 minutes long to suit viewing on the go. Think of it as Twitterized TV. Users will be able to comment on shows live using the microblogging service and Facebook, and watch programs live or whenever they prefer.
Content will include newspapers, magazines, and video games. Nottv is pending government approval. The company was also introducing people to Notty, the channel's furry mascot, by giving out bags. He looks like the Cookie Monster's younger brother. The result was hundreds of Ceatec-goers walking around with mascot bags bearing the phrase "I'm notty."
(CNet)
