YLE has produced new on-demand and browsable pay and other interactive mobile services. The company's news message services are available to customers of all the main domestic operators. The mobile range for state-of-art mobile devices is growing as well.

"During the spring, we have laid a foundation for new, innovative mobile services, as a consequence of which the company will be one of the pioneers in this sector", observes Jari Lahti, head of programmes at YLE24. 

With the World Ice Hockey Championships (from 26 April to 11 May) in mind, YLE has developed entirely new services. It is now looking to see how the users of mobile devices respond to them. 

For example, the Hockey Team News, familiar from television, will be available during the Championships in multimedia message format on mobile telephones. The service contains the latest news on the Finnish team every day during the Championships. Text, pictures and sound can be ordered on MMS-compatible telephones.

YLE host broadcaster

The World Ice Hockey Championships are being played in Finland at stadiums in Helsinki, Turku and Tampere. 

YLE is the host broadcaster for the Championships and is relaying the event to half a billion viewers. Over 35 foreign television and radio companies are covering the matches on the spot, whilst around 250 YLE employees are producing the Finnish and international television signal.

A total of 56 matches will be played, and there will be approx. 65 hours of coverage on television. YLE Radio Suomi will be broadcasting about 33 hours of programmes on the Championships, and commentary can also be heard via the internet. 

The World Championships were last played in Finland in 1997.

More information:
Jari Lahti
Tel: +358 9 1480 4066
jari.lahti@yle.fi