I was watching “œSpark” last Sunday on CNN. One story was about soap operas designed for the cellphone. The “œmobisodes” (mobile episodes) are downloaded via the Internet (desktop or mobilephone Internet) and then played on the cellphone.
The mobisodes have a faster pace of story-telling. Whereas TV soap-operas reach their episode climax towards the 15th minute, a mobisode contains the build-up and the climax all within 3 minutes or so.
More trends around the globe (from Newsweek, Oct 3, 2005):
Britons can watch two-minute highlight reels as soon as five minutes after an English Premiership football match ends. In France, Orange users download a million video clips a month and have streaming-video choices ranging from National Geographic Channel to the Black music channel.
Fox Mobile Entertainment has “œ24:Conspiracy”, a one-minute version of its real-time one-hour hit “œ24″.
The Philippines has seen an introduction of something similar. Globe’s G-TV, featured video clips of popular TV shows and not videos specifically created for mobile consumption.
PTB ka-blogger, Clair Ching, also featured a story about animated videos for the mobile phone by a local Philippine company.
Will mobisodes take-off? Will people start watching “œEncantadia” or “œPinoy Big Brother” on their cellphones?
I don’t think that will happen anytime soon. It all comes down to cost. The Philippines does not have the cost-structures that will spur pervasive use ““ e.g. “œfree” (or at least sub-P5 or P10 per minute). Heck, even MMS isn’t pervasive in the Philippines.
I’ve downloaded (via desktop Internet) a couple of videos for my SmartPhone in the past. I haven’t seen (I haven’t searched) for Filipino videos. But I sure would like to see some of those Filipino animation in my cellphone. Any referral links?
ka edong
p.s. oh yeah, just remembered “¦ I guess the “œ_________ scandal” (fill-in the blank with a name of a sexy actress or Philippine city) type of video clips just might pave the way for mobisode popularity.
2 comments
“oh yeah, just remembered … I guess the “_________ scandal†(fill-in the blank with a name of a sexy actress or Philippine city) type of video clips just might pave the way for mobisode popularity.”
Bakit nga ba puro iyon ang nasa cellphones (mga scandals) while in fact one can fit in at least one 30 min telenovela like encantadia or sugo (or anything you like from TV)