Mobisodes, Anyone?

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/11/AR2006011102283.html' target='_blank'>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dy...6011102283.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"CBS Broadcasting Inc. is developing a made-for-mobile-phone soap opera -- known as a mobisoap [or mobisode] -- that is scheduled to be released in the next several months. The serial show, tentatively titled "Hey, It's Me," will be shown daily on TV-equipped cell phones in three- to five-minute segments and will have its own writers, cast and production team. CBS is among a number of companies showing interest in mobile television. In recent months, the idea has gained in popularity, as carriers increase the speed of their networks and as more phones come with higher-definition screens that better simulate TVs... CBS has not announced what carriers will carry its mobile soap or any pricing or financial terms associated with the show."</i><br /><br />How many of you would bother with a three- to five-minute over-the-air "mobisode"? I know Fox dabbled with the idea last year when they introduced mobile versions of the hit show, "24", and now CBS has decided to follow in their footsteps. Is there really that much interest in them?

[birick]

Maybe... I would probably check it out once, but I doubt I would get hooked on it.

[alabij]

The survey is kind of odd. Most of use already watch clips of 3 to 5 mins on our PDAs and some go as far as to watch movies. Considering that my train commute to work is only thirty mins watching a movie is out of the question but watching such a clip everyday would be fun

Heck! If you love watching shorts (Via Maven) then you'll appreciate this CBS attempt

[Darius Wey]

The survey is kind of odd. Most of use already watch clips of 3 to 5 mins on our PDAs and some go as far as to watch movies.

Perhaps I should clarify. If you read the article, you'll notice that CBS will eventually offload the mobisodes to a specific carrier, who will then possibly charge the consumers a certain subscription fee to download and watch the series. Would you be willing to do that? :) It's different to Joe User's personal DVD rip.

[KTamas]

No way.

[pocketpcadmirer]

3-4 minutes looks ok to me. But I cant go more than that on my magician's tiny screen :(

Sunny

[Rod3]

Not a chance!

[DaleReeck]

Like any regular TV show, if the show is about something that interests you, most people would watch it. If not, you won't watch it. Though a charged fee would definitely reduce viewership even if you liked the content.

[Don't Panic!]

I'd watch a mobisode. I'd probably even pay for it if the show was any good.

What I wouldn't do is switch carriers and purchase a tv-equipped cellular phone to do it. 0X

[Ed Hansberry]

A show called "hey, it's me?" :rotfl: Not a chance. :idontthinkso:

BTW, 24 day 4 (or is it 5?) starts tonight :rock on dude!:

I am not sure which is better, the show, or Dave Berry's blog picking apart the show in real time. http://blogs.herald.com/dave_barrys_blog/ :lol: See his Jan 14 "Advisory" post. He is clearly gearing up to blog in real time the flaws in what is happening on TV in real time.

[encece]

Instead of creating special content for mobile phones, they should using that money to figure out ways to bring full fledged TV to phones.

I can get my email on my phone or pc. Not snippets of it. All of it.

I can get movies on my phone, pc or tv. Not snippets of it. All of it.

I can get my music on my pc, tv, phone or other media device. Not snippets of it. All of it.

TV should be a shared service in the true place shifting enviornments that we have become acustomed to.

[Darius Wey]

BTW, 24 day 4 (or is it 5?) starts tonight :rock on dude!:

Day 5.

I am not sure which is better, the show, or Dave Berry's blog picking apart the show in real time. http://blogs.herald.com/dave_barrys_blog/ :lol: See his Jan 14 "Advisory" post. He is clearly gearing up to blog in real time the flaws in what is happening on TV in real time.

:rotfl:

[Darius Wey]

TV should be a shared service in the true place shifting enviornments that we have become acustomed to.

There's the SmartVideo (http://www.smartvideo.com/index.html) service - but perhaps not as widely adopted as one would hope for.

[encece]

Plus, how relevant are the episodes to the plot (as in 21) when the majority of viewers wont be able to see it unless it's not for mobile users only.

OFF-TOPIC:
Wasn't there a TV show, where you needed to log into a website and send text messages to get the full effect of the show? Some kind of a mystery where you are kind of "part" of the show? It was a full digital media experience....

Was that something that existed but never got off the ground or did I dream it?

[Phoenix]

If it were an IFC short of some sort, I'd like to watch it.

But if it's only five minutes of a thirty minute or hour long episode, then what's the point of that?