The BBC goes Orange

UK mobile operator Orange announced Thursday that the BBC will start providing content for its mobile TV service, Orange TV, beginning April.

The company said its customers will be able to watch part of the BBC’s portfolio, including BBC One, BBC Three and BBC News 24 on their mobiles. The move is part of a trial the BBC is undertaking into syndicating its content to mobile TV providers.

All BBC content will be streamed live over Orange’s 3G network, the company said in a statement.

Subscribers to the Orange TV service will also be able to listen to up to eight radio stations including Radio 1, 1Xtra, Radio 2, Radio 3, Radio 4, 6 Music, BBC 7 and Asian Network. Orange said the content will be ‘simulcast’ to mobiles, so programs will appear as they do on TV or radio, in real time.

Deborah Tonroe, head of TV & Video at Orange said: “We are always looking to keep Orange TV vibrant, exciting and relevant and we are delighted to be working with the BBC to deliver the best sport, entertainment, drama and news available on mobile TV.”

Richard Halton, Controller of Business Strategy, BBC said “The mobile platform is a great opportunity for us to reach existing users in a new way and connect better with people who are not currently big users of the BBC.

“The BBC believes that mobile content is an important part of the broadcasting landscape and is looking at ways in which mobile devices will shape services of the future for licence fee payers. To this end, the BBC will be undertaking extensive and unique research into consumer behaviour and experience throughout the 3G mobile syndication trial. There’s been relatively little consumer research done into this area, and it will provide us with a detailed insight into consumer behaviour.”