BBC World Service’s 24-hour English radio channel has been launched on TU Media of Korea, one of the most advanced media platforms in the world. BBC World Service is the first international radio channel available on a 24 hours a day, seven days a week basis to users of TU Media - Korea’s world’s first S-DMB (Satellite Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) provider.
Neil Curry, BBC World Service’s Head of Business Development, Asia and Pacific Region, believes this is an exciting partnership for the BBC. He says: “TU Media’s subscribers benefit from some of the most advanced mobile broadcasting technology in the world and, by partnering with them, BBC World Service benefits from this company’s exciting and innovative approach to reaching and serving audiences. We are proud to be involved with such an innovative platform.”
Raymond Li, BBC World Service’s Business Development Manager, China and North Asia, adds: “We are delighted to partner with one of the leading mobile broadcasters in South Korea to provide qualified English radio content to many listeners in the country. Mobile phone has become an increasingly popular and effective media platform, and BBC World Service hopes that the new partnership deal with TU Media will help us reach more audience in South Korea, therefore bringing more benefit to them, too.”
South Korean company TU Media launched the world’s first satellite-based mobile television service in May 2005 and attracted more than 50,000 customers in its first month. Nearly two years later, the telecommunication network increased the number of its subscribers to 1,130,000. TU Media’s service uses the Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) standard for mobile television. S-DMB enables people on the road to enjoy crystal-clear video, theatre-quality audio and data with handheld devices or in-automobile terminals.
The company currently offers 16 video channels incorporating drama, sports, games, news, music and movies as well as 19 audio channels. By launching the BBC World Service Channel, TU Media will provide 20 audio channels from 2 May, 2007.
(Source: BBC World Service Publicity/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)