ITV is poised to sign a deal with O2 that would see it become the first terrestrial channel to be broadcast live on mobile phones.
ITV is poised to sign a deal with O2 that would see it become the first terrestrial channel to be broadcast live on mobile phones.

O2 vice-president, research and development Mike Short said lawyers were currently working on sorting out content rights agreements with ITV and a deal could be done within the next six months.

"When clearance on existing rights are agreed, ITV will be available on O2 phones," said Short speaking at last week's Institute of Economic Affairs conference.

"There are a number of lawyers looking into it as there are concerns over duplication of content when it is received by phones."

Such deals have proved tricky to nail down as many rights, such as the rights of actors used in drama, were agreed before new forms of distribution had emerged.

Multichannel operators have already got in on the act. Sky, Discovery and Turner have signed up to test live mobile phone broadcasts from September with O2 and NTL Broadcast. The six-month project in Oxford will be available to around 350 users of specially equipped mobiles.

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