MediaFLO Adds New Markets
Despite Analog-Cutoff Delay
By Joseph Palenchar -- TWICE, 4/1/2009
Las Vegas — Qualcomm extended its 700MHz MediaFLO mobile TV service to three more markets and expanded its mobile-TV footprint in 16 other markets after UHF stations there got FCC permission to turn off their analog signals before the postponed June 12 analog cutoff, the company announced.
During the CTIA convention here, Qualcomm said the total number of MediaFLO markets has grown to 68 from 65. The additional markets, combined with an expanded footprint in the 16 other markets, deliver 10 million more potential viewers to Qualcomm’s MediaFLO subsidiary, the company said.
Qualcomm said it remains on track to hit its previously announced year-end goal of 107 markets with more than 200 million potential viewers. Many of the planned new markets, however, could have gone online sooner during the calendar year rather than later had it not been for the U.S. government’s decision to postpone the analog cutoff from February 17 to June 12. Had the cutoff occurred as originally planned, Qualcomm told TWICE earlier this year, its live-TV subscription service could have been live in 78 markets by the end of March.
The three new MediaFLO markets are Atlantic City, N.J., Greensboro, N.C., and Wilmington, Del. The markets with the expanded footprint are Dallas, San Antonio and Austin, Texas; Baltimore/Washington, D.C.; Chicago; Jacksonville and Orlando, Fla.; St. Louis and Kansas City Mo.; the greater Los Angeles area; New York City; Oklahoma City.; Phoenix; Pittsburgh and Reading, Pa.; and Portland, Ore.
FLO TV is available through cellular carriers AT&T Mobility and Verizon Wireless to select MediaFLO-enabled cellphones.
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