Cingular Wireless said on Wednesday that cable channel HBO has produced a special mobile mini-series based on the popular show "Entourage" that extends the story beyond what is shown on television.
Photo: Cingular Launches Mini-HBO Series for Cell Phones Photo 1
The premise of the made-for-mobile "Entourage" story is Johnny Drama makes a "cellivision" show. Customers can view a series of short vignettes based on this premise as they continue to enjoy the adventures of the friends from Queens on the Hollywood road to fame and fortune.
In another first, Cingular Video subscribers can also enjoy full-length episodes from the first season of "Entourage," plus episodes from "Sex And The City," "Curb your Enthusiasm," and Dane Cook's "Tourgasm." These episodes have been segmented into chapters so Cingular subscribers can relive their favorite moments and share them with their friends.
Cingular Video uses the power of 3G phones as well as Cingular's new high- speed 3G wireless broadband network, which is currently available in 18 major markets encompassing 54 communities. The company expects service to be available in most major markets by the end of the year.
To access Cingular Video, consumers need to purchase a 3G phone and sign up for the MEdia Net Unlimited package, which includes Cingular Video. Premium content, such as HBO, is optional and customers are charged an additional subscription fee for access.
Media is really trying to tie in cell phones. Remember when they first started posting websites on their shows? Didn't really work. Doubt this will either.
2. Posted by cbonn1
Thu Jul 13, 2006 1:37 pm
Media is really trying to tie in cell phones. Remember when they first started posting websites on their shows? Didn't really work. Doubt this will either.
Mgoblue... can only assume you're a fellow Michigan grad... to that i say GO BLUE!!!
I have to disagree, however, with your opinion on the success of integrating different medias. First, you use show web sites as evidence that it doesn't work, yet watching movie trailers and other such initiatives over the net has worked well.
Second, and more importantly, one needs to realize why (even if it were true) the linking of web sites to shows isn't immensely successful. When "they" began doing this, the world was a very desperate place. The net and traditional media delivery methods were completely independent systems. No possibility to integrate. Things are changing rapidly. With packet data and IMS driven networks being rolled out, the entire game is going to change. This takes care of the backend infrastructure capabilities. On the user end, we see HD TVs (especially LCDs), continued and further integration of a PC/computer type device into home entertainment/life, and strong pushes by major vendors to get into that space. This takes care of the user end.
When taken in totality, the mobile device just becomes one more piece in (excuse the lame phrase) the "digital life" we will all be living in. The telecom world being filled with both visionaries and dinosaurs, sadly all too often the latter, is squarely moving towards this end. Its just a matter of seeing where the chips fall to determine precisely what that future landscape is going to look like.
It is true these first introductions of video and other media over wireless isn't going to be enormous; however, make no mistake... the device you are going to have in your hand in several years, with SDRs, tiny organic batteries, and even smaller harddrives of immense storage capability will turn your portable device into a major component in your total digital life system.
Chao
3. Posted by mgoblue
Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:50 am
indeed
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