Abstract
This IDC study forecasts the U.S. wireless commercial video and television market for 2005-2009.
Wireless commercial video and television, as distinct from the user-created video content market,
has generated an astounding amount of interest - and hype - in the past year. From the launch of
goTV and MobiTV on 2.5G cellular networks, to Verizon Wireless launch of VCAST on 3G, to the
noncellular multicast/broadcast networks anticipated in late 2006, this highly complex market is
sure to remain among the most dynamic and compelling services delivered to wireless subscribers and
customers in the years ahead.
Based on customer and subscriber survey data as well as in-depth discussions with key network
operators, infrastructure providers, handset manufacturers, and content providers, this forecast
assesses the demand for wireless commercial video and television services through 2009 in terms of
several key metrics: subscribers and "・la carte" customers, consumption (based on
total minutes consumed per year and per subscriber/customer), and revenue. Extensive trend analysis
and a summary of current carrier offerings are included.
"Although there are substantial challenges facing the commercial video and television
marketplace from a network, handset, and content perspective, which will serve to keep penetration
levels relatively low, we anticipate that annual revenue will still top the $3 billion mark by
2009," said Lewis Ward, senior research analyst in IDCs Wireless and Mobile Communications
program. "With an ARPU approaching $10 per subscriber per month by that point, commercial video
and television may well emerge as the single largest cell phone-oriented ARPU driver among consumers
outside of voice." |