FLO TV to offer time-shifted viewing, pay-as-you-go, web-based content later this year
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted April 13th 2010 5:02PM
posted April 13th 2010 5:02PM
It looks like FLO TV is about to get a little more interesting. Alongside your automobile and your various smartphones, you'll soon be able to turn to your smartbooks, e-readers, and tablets to access your mobile TV service. The diabolical plot begins when the company launches "new applications that integrate video with web-based content" for distributing "live mobile TV and rich mobile media services to a range of new devices." What does all this mean, exactly? Aside from some additional interactivity for advertisers, the service is planning on announcing pay-as-you-go and pay-per-view billing, as well as time-shifted viewing (you know, like a DVR). We don't know what existing hardware will be able to take advantage of this, but we're sure that a combination of pausing shows and pay-as-you-go would make new devices much more attractive to the casual user. Look for things to start happening the second half of this year. PR after the break.
FLO TV to Expand its Offering with Interactive Capabilities, On-demand Content and Time-shifted Viewing
LAS VEGAS, April 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- FLO TV Incorporated, a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), today announced at the 2010 NAB Show in Las Vegas (Booth #SU1424) that it is working to enhance its mobile TV service with new applications that integrate video with Web-based content and social media tools. The expanded capabilities are in response to the ways in which consumers today are simultaneously viewing and interacting with content.
"With consumers' mobile entertainment habits evolving rapidly, FLO TV will be integrating its current live linear video with relevant, on-demand content and interactive features that complement the programming viewers are watching in real-time," said Bill Stone, president of FLO TV. "Our innovative, nationwide multicast network is at the heart of this solution and will allow us to distribute live mobile TV and rich mobile media services to a range of new devices – from smartbooks to e-readers and tablets."
In addition to integrated experiences, FLO TV announced an expanded suite of mobile TV services, including interactive capabilities, pay-per-day and event passes, and time-shifted viewing options. The new features will be available on the FLO TV™ service across a range of mobile devices in the second half of 2010. New service applications will include:
* Interactive features that will enable users to interact with programming and advertising, allowing consumers to click for more information about a show or click to buy an advertised product.
* Pay-per-day passes designed to offer pay-as-you-go flexibility, providing consumers the ability to watch the FLO TV service without committing to a recurring monthly subscription. Event passes will provide an easy way for existing FLO TV subscribers to add premium content such as limited engagement, special events to their programming lineup.
* Time-shifted viewing, or 'catch-up TV,' that will allow popular shows to be stored on FLO-enabled mobile devices, thereby granting viewers the ability to watch their favorite shows on-demand, even outside of a coverage area.
At a time when mobile devices such as smartphones, e-readers and tablets are proliferating and data consumption is increasing, FLO TV's nationwide network can alleviate cellular network congestion to meet the growing consumer demand for mobile media access across a wide range of devices.
The FLO TV service is currently available on multiple platforms, including mobile handsets and the recently launched FLO TV Personal Television, the first-ever portable digital television with a dedicated network. In collaboration with Audiovox, FLO TV also offers FLO TV Auto Entertainment, an in-vehicle entertainment system that delivers high-quality mobile TV.
Service not available everywhere. Programming subject to change / blackout restrictions. Service subscription required. "Live mobile television" means the FLO TV service transmits channels in real time; no downloading, sideloading or buffering.
About FLO TV
The FLO TV service combines the best content, an intuitive user interface and a superior multicast network to deliver a true quality TV viewing experience for consumers. FLO TV offers full-length simulcast and time-shifted programming from the world's best entertainment brands, including ABC Mobile, Adult Swim Mobile, CBS, CNBC, CNN Mobile, COMEDY CENTRAL, Disney Channel, ESPN Mobile TV, FOX Mobile, FOX News Channel, msnbc, MTV, NBC 2Go and nickelodeon. Based in San Diego, Calif., FLO TV Incorporated is a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated. Further information is available at www.flotv.com. Follow us via Twitter: www.twitter.com/flotv and Facebook: www.facebook.com/flotv.
Qualcomm is a registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. FLO and FLO TV are trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
LAS VEGAS, April 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- FLO TV Incorporated, a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), today announced at the 2010 NAB Show in Las Vegas (Booth #SU1424) that it is working to enhance its mobile TV service with new applications that integrate video with Web-based content and social media tools. The expanded capabilities are in response to the ways in which consumers today are simultaneously viewing and interacting with content.
"With consumers' mobile entertainment habits evolving rapidly, FLO TV will be integrating its current live linear video with relevant, on-demand content and interactive features that complement the programming viewers are watching in real-time," said Bill Stone, president of FLO TV. "Our innovative, nationwide multicast network is at the heart of this solution and will allow us to distribute live mobile TV and rich mobile media services to a range of new devices – from smartbooks to e-readers and tablets."
In addition to integrated experiences, FLO TV announced an expanded suite of mobile TV services, including interactive capabilities, pay-per-day and event passes, and time-shifted viewing options. The new features will be available on the FLO TV™ service across a range of mobile devices in the second half of 2010. New service applications will include:
* Interactive features that will enable users to interact with programming and advertising, allowing consumers to click for more information about a show or click to buy an advertised product.
* Pay-per-day passes designed to offer pay-as-you-go flexibility, providing consumers the ability to watch the FLO TV service without committing to a recurring monthly subscription. Event passes will provide an easy way for existing FLO TV subscribers to add premium content such as limited engagement, special events to their programming lineup.
* Time-shifted viewing, or 'catch-up TV,' that will allow popular shows to be stored on FLO-enabled mobile devices, thereby granting viewers the ability to watch their favorite shows on-demand, even outside of a coverage area.
At a time when mobile devices such as smartphones, e-readers and tablets are proliferating and data consumption is increasing, FLO TV's nationwide network can alleviate cellular network congestion to meet the growing consumer demand for mobile media access across a wide range of devices.
The FLO TV service is currently available on multiple platforms, including mobile handsets and the recently launched FLO TV Personal Television, the first-ever portable digital television with a dedicated network. In collaboration with Audiovox, FLO TV also offers FLO TV Auto Entertainment, an in-vehicle entertainment system that delivers high-quality mobile TV.
Service not available everywhere. Programming subject to change / blackout restrictions. Service subscription required. "Live mobile television" means the FLO TV service transmits channels in real time; no downloading, sideloading or buffering.
About FLO TV
The FLO TV service combines the best content, an intuitive user interface and a superior multicast network to deliver a true quality TV viewing experience for consumers. FLO TV offers full-length simulcast and time-shifted programming from the world's best entertainment brands, including ABC Mobile, Adult Swim Mobile, CBS, CNBC, CNN Mobile, COMEDY CENTRAL, Disney Channel, ESPN Mobile TV, FOX Mobile, FOX News Channel, msnbc, MTV, NBC 2Go and nickelodeon. Based in San Diego, Calif., FLO TV Incorporated is a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated. Further information is available at www.flotv.com. Follow us via Twitter: www.twitter.com/flotv and Facebook: www.facebook.com/flotv.
Qualcomm is a registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. FLO and FLO TV are trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
The whole idea of wasting time watching television turned upside down
@markolic As opposed to spending your time reading "À la recherche du temps perdu" and commenting on tech blogs...
@markolic What about us that have a FloTV Personal Television? Are we just out of luck?
@adamkparker Yes, Im sorry and im reading the defenders by philip dick
Seriously, who has one of these.... y would anyone buy a device and pay monthly service?? "additional interactivity for advertisers"... and they put ads there on top of charging people for service...? what?
@nothing Yeah who would pay for television AND have to sit through commercials. That'll never work...
Uprank me if you are ticked that they removed comments on the Michael Gartenberg article.
@New Reformation
Okay, now I look like a fool, but I swear they had comments disabled on the Gartenberg article (which was actually quite good). I must be weak from my encounter with lord vader earlier...
@New Reformation. Yessss. Let the hate "FLO" through you
@New Reformation They had switched off the comments, I thought we'd gone back to the dark days of a few months ago.
I saw the tiny device with blurry image for $199.99 plus monthly fee at radioshack and I dont think it will last long
Is this company traded on the stock exchange? How does one go about shorting a stock?
mtf
I don't get it. Will this be coming to Android or WebOS?
And does it have to be tied to a landline service?
@Johnny Rockets
it's broadcast TV. It uses the old UHF frequencies and broadcasts digital TV to subscribers. Some phones on Verizon and AT&T already have it built in. I know with AT&T you get serveral channels for an extra $10 on your phone.
Flo TV I think is a great investment once smartphones start coming with it the price of $10 will be no big deal to all phone users.
It's a great idea except that it's ridiculously overpriced. If it were being offered free to consumers, who bought a subsidized device, or watched on their iPads or iPhones in exchange for watching 30 seconds of ad content a day, it might be feasible, but they charge way too much money and they want you to carry around a separate device, plus they want you to watch ads. Totally not worth it. Get a sling box and watch your own content. For what you would pay flo tv you can easily afford a 3G or 4G connection to watch slingbox on your laptop, netbook, iPhone or (hopefully) iPad. Plus you have the option of watching all of your own channels instead of the few paltry offerings that flo tv gives you.
@Griffin
Umm you can get 25 channels of TV in your pocket for about $8 a month. How is that overpriced? Sure you have to pay for the $199 device but you do get 6 months of service for free. I have been planning on Flo TV for a while because all I watch on cable is ESPN.
I am holding out for the Mophie Juicepack TV and then my iPhone will have FloTV
@Kurt02021:
It's $14.99 a month for service and how do you justify 200 bux for a mini tv that gets 25 fake channels that you can't even watch your premium shows on? for that price you are better off with an iPad and a slingbox.