The app's home panorama is divided into four pages: watched (effectively a history page), featured (highlighted content), services (stepping off point to browse each content service) and settings (app configuration).
Each service has its own panorama with featured (highlighted content), latest (recently added content), categories (content by genre), and all series (list episodic programmes) pages. There's also a search function that lets you find content by keyword within the current service.
Tapping on a programme (or videos) name takes you to the details page for that content. This includes information about the content (description)) and, if applicable, when it was broadcast and when the content will expire (no longer be available). Tapping on a thumbnail in content lists, the associated image on the details page, or the play button on the toolbar of the deatils page will start playing the content full screen, in landscape orientation.
Nokia has not indicated whether it plans to extend the Nokia TV app / service to other markets. Finland was almost certainly chosen as a pilot market because of Nokia's existing relationships with the main broadcasters and it negotiating power in its homeland. Expanding outside the home market may be more difficult, but given the importance that Nokia places of differentiating its Windows Phone devices through exclusive software and services, such as Nokia Drive, Nokia Music and Nokia Reading, it seems likely that, where possible, the company will be eager to expand the number of markets supported by Nokia TV.
For example, a UK version of Nokia TV might combine the BBC's iPlayer, Channel 4's 4OD service and ITV's ITV Player. The biggest issue is likely to be negotaiting with the various service providers, who may wish to maintain tighter control over their mobile on demand content services.
Regardless the Finnish version of Nokia TV is a very impressive app; it provides exactly the kind of seamless and easy to use experience that most people want from the mobile version of their catch-up TV / video on-demand service. It probably won't be quite enough to make you move to Finland, but it might make you think twice about it...
Marketplace description:
Watch the TV shows you love on your phone. The TV app from Nokia pulls together local TV services, so it’s easy for you to watch what you love on your phone. Flick through your local TV services and the available shows, find what you want and play. Most services are free. But you may be charged for data – best use an unlimited cellular data plan or WLAN wherever possible.
- Browse listings of locally available TV services in one place
- Search across all available services in one go
- Select to start playing immediately
For Finnish users the Nokia TV app is available in the Nokia Collection section of the Windows Phone Marketplace. However, if you're interested in trying out the app, it is available to download for global users by following this direct link, or using the QR code on our Nokia TV page.