MobiTV adds CBS to lineup
MobiTV said Tuesday that it has struck a content deal with network TV provider CBS (now the parent company of CNET News) to bring some of its most popular TV shows to mobile phones.
For the first time, MobiTV will be offering a CBS channel as part of its $10 a month service. MobiTV subscribers will be able to get full episodes of several CBS hits such as "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "Numb3rs," "CSI: NY," and "The Young and the Restless." Viewers will also be able to access video on demand news, sports and comedy clips from CBS Mobile. The shows will be available on AT&T and Sprint Nextel networks the day after CBS broadcasts them on TV.
MobiTV, which has been around for about five years, already offers more than 40 channels of daily live TV from several networks including ABC, NBC, ESPN, and Discovery Networks. It also offers made for mobile videos and video on demand clips to more than five million subscribers on over 350 mobile devices.
"The deal with CBS rounds out our primetime programming that we already offer from NBC and ABC," said Paul Scanlan, co-founder and president of MobiTV. "One of the biggest challenges for us over the years has been the availability of high value content for mobile. So every time we do a content deal like this, it's really important."
Marguerite Reardon has been a CNET News reporter since 2004, covering cell phone services, broadband, citywide Wi-Fi, the Net neutrality debate, as well as the ongoing consolidation of the phone companies. E-mail Maggie.
