A year after shuttering its mobile TV video service, ESPN has relaunched a new 24/7 TV channel for wireless devices.
Available now, the ESPN Mobile TV service replaces the sports cable network's first mobile video sports channel, which was launched in July 2005 and closed down in December 2006 due to disappointing sign up rates. The new service, which is not a simulcast of any ESPN channel, will be available on MobiTV and the MediaFLO mobile entertainment services.
Content will include live, simulcast sports events, breaking sports news, mobile-exclusive programming and analysis, and real-time sports scores and game updates. By the end of January ESPN says its mobile TV service will have offered more than 50 hours of coverage from the Australian Open Tennis Championships; an assortment of NBA and NCAA basketball games, Winter X-Games, as well as the MLS draft.
"MobiTV is committed to delivering the marquee TV brands consumers are used to seeing at home and ESPN programming represents a significant milestone in our mission to deliver home-like viewing experience to consumers, wherever they are," said Jeff Bartee, vice president of content and programming at MobiTV. "The demand for on-the-go and live sports programming has not only contributed to the success of the mobile television category, but has quickly shifted our mobile and broadband services from novelty to necessity."
ESPN Mobile TV will be included in MobiTV's service, which is available through Sprint, AT&T and Alltel wireless services. It will also be available on MediaFLO, which is carried on Verizon wireless service.
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