VODAFONE Hutchison Australia has started marketing live television services to mobile customers. This includes free-to-air and subscription television channels.
Viewers can already watch SBS television and some ABC channels on a short delay, and a spokesman confirmed yesterday that VHA was considering adding more services.
The push comes as Optus waits on a Federal Court decision regarding its mobile television service, called TV Now.
Advertisement: Story continues below Optus has been accused of breaching the Australian Football League and National Rugby League copyright on matches by giving customers an opportunity to stream matches from Channel Seven in near-live conditions on mobiles and tablets.
The AFL and NRL have exclusive internet broadcast deals with Telstra.
''We are always interested in offering our customers innovative services to help them make the most of their mobility devices, smartphone, tablets, mobile broadband, and mobile lifestyles, and will continue to explore rich media services that showcase our new Vodafone network,'' VHA spokesman Greg Spears told BusinessDay.
''To that end, we will continue to keep across the coming Optus TV Now court proceedings and judgment.''
VHA quietly launched its live TV service in October.
It offers iPhone customers five channels, including Fox Sports News, CNN, Sky News 24, Cartoon Network, live cricket television and SBS. VHA charges $1 a day, or $4 a month, per channel for unmetered viewing. Watching SBS is free.
Customers with other smartphones can also watch popular shows such as Jersey Shore, Audrina, South Park and SpongeBob SquarePants as well as the subscription channels MTV, E! and Nickelodeon.