Shanghai CMMB operator Oriental Pearl Group (OPG) (600832.SH) has stated that its CMMB network will begin official commercial operations on January 1, 2009, making it the first CMMB operator in China to do so. Mobile phone TV subscribers will pay a monthly fee of RMB 12 for the service, of which the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) will receive RMB 10, and the operator RMB 2.

A source at OPG has revealed that there will be a total of 100 CMMB retail outlets in Shanghai by the end of 2009, plus 10 CMMB demonstration centers.

In addition, Shanghai will receive 100,000 of the 1 mln handsets that will be purchased by SARFT in a bidding process that will be completed before the end of the year. The city will construct its own channel partner system for the SARFT tenders, and plans to purchase additional terminals in excess of the original tender.

Source:Shanghai Evening Post