Amid fanfare, Indonesia launched mobile TV in 2009 marking a further step in the widening of broadcast and media platforms there.The move came after the introduction of a 3G network in 2006 that lead analysts to look to the market with optimism. In 2009 two consortia provided channels initially free, Globe Tren Mobile TV backed by pay- TV leader Indovision’s parent company, Global Mediacom and Indosat and two subsidies of Telekomunikasi Indonesia. Telkom’s service offers eight channels including CNN and National Geographic. Mobile operator Nokia, also partnered with Global Mediacom to launch a commercial broadcast mobile TV service based on DVB-H technology. In recent months, PT Media and Nasantara Citra (MNC) and DMB Nusantara also won a licence to provide mobile TV in Jakarta, with subscription rates at Rp 535,000 (US$59.95) a year, or $9.95 a month. But after four years just seven per cent of the total mobile market has subscribed to mobile TV. Debnath Guharoy, regional director Asia for Roy Morgan Research, says mobile TV is on the “up and up” but it remains to be from “a very small base”. Mobile telephone use in Indonesia has risen sharply and stands at 150 million. But the main attention is focused on Jakarta where nine out of 10 Indonesians 14 years and older have mobile phones. But ownership across Indonesia slides to a national average of just under 60 per cent penetration. “Yes, mobile TV is up, yes, games are up, yes people are using more apps but the number of people using apps is very small,” Guharoy told TVAPlus. But Guharoy said whenever discussions centre on mobile phones there are issues on cost and speed of downloads. “A lot of subscribers are given slow speeds and you’re paying a high price – not very many people have both money and patience,” he says. Several TV stations now have apps that grant access to their stations through mobile phone networks. But key problems, says Guharoy, is the cost of watching TV on mobile. “It is still high for most people and for those who want to or can – and money isn’t the issue – there is a growth but the population is very small.” Slow upload speeds combined with the relative high price often deter subscribers. “Not very many people have both money and patience,” he added. The real story however, says Guharoy, is that most of Indonesia’s 20 million Facebook subscribers gain access to the website through their mobile phones. Patrick Schult, chief executive officer of FremantleMedia Asia, agrees that there is some way to go before mobile TV firmly cements itself in Indonesia. “The jury is still out,” Schult says. “I’ve seen no evidence yet of our content at least in most Asian markets – certainly in Indonesia – making any money on that platform, at least at this stage.” Schult says most of FremantleMedia shows are currently “one run” programmes, such as Indonesia Idol, and are not repeated and unlikely to be sent out on another platform such as Mobile TV. But he is sure a media company will succeed on the mobile TV platform. “You’ll probably find that someone will crack it in terms of making a show that’s more than just short entertaining clips,” he says.