Channel 4 rings in the changes

New agreement to deliver original content on mobile phones

Channel 4 is to offer original content on mobile phones in addition to popular shows such as Lost and Desperate Housewives, after the broadcaster extended its licensing agreement.

It was the first terrestrial broadcaster to launch a mobile portal last year, offering exclusive video and pictures direct to viewers’ phones to coincide with the launch of Big Brother 6.

It now features news, clips from popular shows, a daily catch-up service for its soap Hollyoaks as well as quizzes, voting competitions and music downloads.

Channel 4 has extended the agreement with Volantis Storefront, a supplier of intelligent content adaptation solutions for mobile phones, to merchandise a variety of rich media content for the mobile service including new and unique material.

‘Upgrading to a license gives us more control over the development of content and the flexibility to change the service and experiment with new features,’ said head of telephone business development Riccardo Donato.

‘We are now able to dynamically deliver the best editorial content and better represent the whole range of Channel 4’s output.’

The service is currently a pay-per-download model although Channel 4 has experimented with advertising.

Volantis developed and host the portal as a managed service. With its mobile content storefront, wireless carriers and content providers can manage, sell and promote a variety of mobile content such as wallpapers, ringtones, audio and video, streaming content and games.

The technology is optimised for individual handsets to deliver the best possible experience and operates on more than 3,200 mobile devices.

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Further reading

ITV and 3 announce mobile TV deal

BBC and ITV to trial mobile TV

Mobile TV to boom during World Cup