Shanghai Gets IPTV

The long-awaited Internet TV service hit Shanghai on Sept 1. Shanghai Media Group, the IPTV operatoer, decided to bundled the IPTV offering with a broadband service offered by Shanghai Telecom. The service operators forecast the Internet Protocol TV service will attract about 100,000 family users in the city by the end of this year. At that time, Shanghai will have the largest H-264 based IPTV platform.

Shanghai's IPTV services allow users to enjoy an additional 58 live broadcasting channels, 3,000 hours of video on demand and automatic program recording. Both operators plan to offer weather forecasts and interactive games later. "Shanghai leads the IPTV sector and the city will become the No. 1 by IPTV subscriber numbers in the country," Shanghai Telecom said yesterday. The service is now available in the western and northern parts of the city, as well as in Songjiang, Nanhui and Minhang districts, according to hotline 10000. The price of a new IPTV service ranges from 1,660 yuan (US$208) to 1,900 yuan annually, including Shanghai Telecom's one-year broadband service. If users want to have broadband on computer and IPTV service on TV at the same time, they have to pay an extra 100 yuan for the line upgrade, Shanghai Telecom said.

BesTV, SMG's IPTV arm, will provide the service. The company received the first IPTV license in April 2005. It currently has more than 70,000 users, including 60,000 in Haierbin, Heilongjiang province.