Telecom and TVNZ agreement means armchair olympians can get off the couch
Thursday 24 July 2008, 11:56AM
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Kiwi sports fans will be able to keep tabs on our Olympians via video clips streamed direct to their mobile phones free of charge, thanks to a partnership between Television New Zealand and Telecom.
In what is a first for New Zealand, Telecom customers with video-enabled mobiles will be able to view the best of TVNZ’s Olympic coverage from almost anywhere.
The TVNZ clips will be up to three minutes long, and will feature the best of the broadcaster’s Games coverage including Kiwi performances, athlete interviews, and key events of the day from Beijing. Telecom customers will be able to stream up to 20 clips per day free of charge.
“Our customers will be able to get Olympic action over our 3G network direct to the palm of their hands - right from the opening ceremony,” says Telecom GM of Consumer Marketing, David Craig.
“This is yet another example of the prevalence of mobile technology and the demand we’re seeing for customers to have it all in one device, says Mr Craig.”
Telecom and TVNZ have been working on the technical side of the arrangement for a number of months to ensure it is ready for 8 August, 2008.
"Mobile is the perfect device for short form content like the clips we are providing from Beijing. This will allow Telecom mobile users to have access to the Olympics, wherever they are," says Thor Bayer, GM Content Licensing at TVNZ.