French firms to beam TV programmes to mobile phones

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2005

PARIS (AFP) — French satellite television broadcaster Canalsat and mobile phone operator SFR are to launch on Wednesday the world's first service that will beam television programmes direct to mobile telephones, the two companies said.

The channels will be available on so-called third generation or 3G services provided for subscribers to SFR, which is owned by the French group Vivendi Universal with Vodafone of Britain as a major shareholder.

Canalsat and SFR said the new service was a world first and would initially offer 17 channels on payment of a monthly subscription fee of 12 euros (14.6 dollars), excluding connection costs.

The service will include a range of programmes from Canal Plus, the French pay TV channel, which also belongs to Vivendi...