The player: Tim Bryan, CEO of ICO Global, a satellite communications company based in Reston, Va.
The play: ICO Global is developing a satellite and terrestrial communications system to offer wireless voice, data and Internet service throughout the United States on mobile and portable devices. The company’s “ICO mim” technology brings mobile video and television programming to automobiles and recently won a “Best of the Best” award at the Consumer Electronics Show from cable network G4. ICO expects to start offering the service for about $15 to $25 a month next year to consumers who want to have portable television sets in the back seats of their cars. Mr. Bryan estimates there are 60 million back-seat entertainment systems currently installed in automobiles in the U.S.
The pitch: As ICO competes with cellular providers that offer video service, it is pinning its hopes on the nationwide coverage it can offer as a satellite provider, Mr. Bryan said. “In the wireless business, there are three critical factors: coverage, coverage and coverage,” he said. “We are not building islands of mobile video in a variety of cities around the country. We are already built across the country.”
In the mix: As part of its current trial, ICO has inked content deals to carry the programming from NBC Universal, Discovery, Turner, E! and MTV Networks. ICO competitors include AT&T, Sirius Backseat TV and MediaFLO, in addition to handheld video game consoles and DVD players that are used to entertain children on long car trips.
The money guys: ICO Global is publicly traded on the Nasdaq. Mr. Bryan did not disclose a time frame for profitability. The company is backed by cellular pioneer Craig McCaw.
The pros: Nationwide coverage and full-length programming from major networks are key selling points.
The cons: The company went through bankruptcy eight years ago after failing as a satellite phone provider. Mr. McCaw rescued the company then and is now making a big and risky bet on consumer demand for in-car video.
Background: Mr. Bryan has been the CEO of ICO since 2005 and has been on the company’s board since 2001. He previously worked at Jones Intercable and United GlobalCom. He is a graduate of Duke University.