Verizon offers live TV to V Cast subscribers

By Giselle Abramovich

January 18, 2008

Customers can watch their network TV shows, sports and breaking news, including weather reports

Verizon Wireless customers can access broadcast-quality television on select mobile TV-enabled handsets.

The wireless carrier will be broadcasting live TV to V Cast subscribers in the New York Metro area, some parts of Long Island and Bergen and Hudson counties in New Jersey.

“It’s just another service that we offer to our customers,” said David Samberg, spokesman for Verizon Wireless, Basking Ridge, NJ. “It’s different than traditional data services because it is not over a mobile network.

“Phones pick up the signal and so it’s live,” Mr. Samberg said. “This is for people on-the-go who need to be able to watch television wherever they are.”

V Cast Mobile TV features live content and other programming round-the-clock from entertainment brands including CBS Mobile, Comedy Central, ESPN Mobile TV, Fox Mobile, MTV, NBC 2Go, NBC News2Go and Nickelodeon.

Customers can watch their network TV shows, sports and breaking news, including weather reports, on the bus or train to and from work, waiting at the airport, or to kill time.

Monthly access packages range from $13 to $25 per month. Four V Cast Mobile TV-enabled phones currently are available: the new Voyager by LG ($299.99), LG VX9400 ($149.99), the Motorizr Z6tv ($179.99) and the Samsung SCH-u620 ($99.99).

All prices are after a $50 mail-in rebate and include a new two-year customer agreement.

V Cast Mobile TV from Verizon Wireless is powered on the Flo TV service from MediaFlo USA Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Inc. 

“The way to look at this is developers are trying to get their stuff on the third screen as it is another way to reach their targeted audience,” Mr. Samberg said. “No download is necessary so customers are not using any storage space.”