LONDON — Mobile TV is becoming an emotional issue in Europe, with carriers disputing each other's customer claims in Italy, and major operators challenging European Commission proposals for the adoption of DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcasting " Handheld) as the standard technical platform for mobile TV service delivery.

Italians Squabble Over Subs Stats

In the biggest DVB-H mobile TV market in Europe, Italian mobile operators can't agree on how many subscribers they have. Recently 3 Italia said it had more than 600,000 subscribers to its DVB-H service, which it launched a year ago. But a Telecom Italia SpA executive has questioned that number.

Gian Paolo Balboni, senior program manager for TV and multimedia at Telecom Italia, said there are between 500,000 and 600,000 DVB-H customers in the Italian market in total. "600,000 is the number of phones [3 Italia] has delivered to its shops [not subscribers]. It's a common trick we telcos use."

Telecom Italia Mobile launched mobile TV services over DVB-H in November 2006, said Balboni. A recent report in the newsletter Mobile Media said that TIM only has 10,000 mobile TV customers. A TIM spokesman said that number was incorrect but would not reveal the actual figure.

TIM, Vodafone Italy, and 3 Italia all offer mobile TV services over DVB-H in Italy. TIM and Vodafone have wholesale agreements with broadcaster Mediaset, while 3 Italia has its own DVB-H network, which it developed after it acquired Channel 7 from the Profit Group in November 2005.