ESPN-STAR Sports on Tuesday announced the launch of Mobile ESPN, marking its entry into the mobile value added services (VAS) domain in India. The new service will be available on major telecom networks such as Hutch, Airtel, Idea, BSNL, etc. from November 15, 2006. Prices range from Rs 50 to Rs 100 for a month’s access for any of the specific services. Customer can also avail services on Pay per Use basis based on regular telecom tariffs for such services.

The service is presently available in Hindi and English Mobile ESPN is launched to provide Personalized sports programming and entertainment from ESPN will be offered, along with sports news, information, commentary, analysis, statistics, ring tones, graphics, photos, logos and streaming video to serve the sports fan any time, anywhere and via any device. Last month ESPN announed it would be discontinuing the service in USA because of poor subscriptions. It was estimated that Mobile ESPN and Disney Mobile combined would lose $135 million over the 2006 fiscal year.

Mobile ESPN in USA is estimated to have 30,000 users by the end of the year, compared to the 240,000 predicted when Disney launched the service in February But ESPN India MD RC Venkateish explained to indiantelivision.com , "There (in the US) the business model was different. However, we see huge potential in the mobile arena here as the leading sports broadcaster."

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