Disney's Sweeney sees mobile TV as "critical"

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Disney Media Networks Co-Chairman Anne Sweeney said on Wednesday the ability to watch television on mobile devices is a "critical" area of growth as wireless service providers begin offering live TV services next year.

The launch of live wireless TV services, such as Verizon Communications Inc.'s MediaFlo service next year, could provide a potentially lucrative new channel for Disney's top-rated television shows.

"I think wireless will be critical," Anne Sweeney, co-chairman of Disney Media Networks, said at the Reuters Media Summit in New York.

Sweeney said Disney Media Networks, a unit of Walt Disney Co., expects the ability to watch live TV on cellphones and other mobile devices to help media companies reach new audiences.

Disney's ABC Television network has licensed about 250 hours of its top shows "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives" to South Korean wireless phone operator TU Media Corp., Sweeney said.

The TU deal showed viewers of its shows on the wireless TV service were "quite young," Sweeney said.

"We're learning from Korea about a transition that will be happening in the rest of the world," she added.

Asked when she expected live mobile TV would reach the U.S., she said, "I'd say ... certainly within the next 12, to on the outside, 24 months -- more like 12-18."

She declined to specify which service provider would carry Disney programming, but said they were having conversations with all the major providers.

Disney has been among the most aggressive of big media companies in exploring new technology to reach viewers. Its shows were the first to be available on Apple Computer Inc.'s iTunes digital entertainment service. Earlier this year, Disney was also the first to make some of its full-length feature films available on iTunes.

Apple's Chief Executive Steve Jobs serves on Disney's board.