Toshiba shutters mobile TV service

Is this the deathknell for broadcast mobile TV? Toshiba’s four year old mobile telly subsidiary, Mobile Broadcasting Corporation, is soon to be shut down.

Says Toshiba:

“Since its establishment, Mobile Broadcasting Corporation has provided diverse services in an attempt to build a subscriber base and enlarge its business. However, the number of subscribers has not reached a sufficient level to sustain operations and, following a thorough review of operations, the company has decided to cease broadcasting.”

The service will be closed down by March next year. However, it doesn’t look like Japan has lost its enthusiasm for mobile TV in general – rather, it just wasn’t that keen on this service: other reports say that there are 20 million mobile TV watchers on a rival offering in the land of the rising sun.