TV channels for smartphones, tablets begin operating

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A mobile TV service for smartphones and tablets began operating on Sunday. The Nottv service is operated by mmbi Inc, a subsidiary of NTT Docomo, in collaboration with other investors and commercial television broadcasters.

The paid service offers news, drama, sports and music shows on three channels per month at a cost of 420 yen, mmbi officials said at a news conference. The service is currently available in selected locations, including Tokyo and Osaka.

The service offers two ways of watching TV on the go: one is a real time, analog broadcast, using frequencies vacated when Japanese terrestrial TV went digital, and the other involves downloading video clip files to the user’s device. The mmbi officials said that the latter system is also capable of providing apps, games and other file types.

According to Docomo, the service is compatible with two models of touchscreen device at present, but the company hopes to increase the availability of the service in the future.