US : Twentieth Television, a leading television program production and distribution company, and Verizon Wireless, the nation's leading wireless service provider, have entered into an agreement to bring two direct-to-mobile series to customers. The announcement was jointly made today by Bob Cook, president and COO of Twentieth Television; Lucy Hood, senior vice president, content & marketing, of News Corporation; and John Stratton, vice president and chief marketing officer at Verizon Wireless.

Under terms of the agreement, Twentieth Television will produce one-minute original "mobisodes" of the serial dramas "Love and Hate" and "The Sunset Hotel" (26 mobisodes of each series, for a total of 52) designed specifically for V CAST, the new 3G multimedia wireless service from Verizon Wireless, and Vodafone's 3G Live!; Verizon Wireless and Vodafone will distribute the serialized, live-action series to V CAST and Live! customers.

Twentieth Television is also producing a dedicated promotional spot for each series, as well as an additional mobisode regarding the making of "The Sunset Hotel." Twentieth Television's Cook noted, "In today's multiplatform environment, it is important to identify new and creative ways to supply the ever-growing list ofavenues through which content can, and will be, delivered.

We feel that the production of these serialized soap operas is a unique way to further bolster Verizon Wireless' and Vodafone's strong product offerings to global markets while creating a value proposition and additional revenue streams for all parties involved."

Verizon Wireless' Stratton added, "Mobile video is an exciting new medium that brings new opportunity and growth to programming companies - our relationship with Twentieth Television leverages the broad distribution channels that Verizon Wireless and Vodafone jointly bring to the table.

Twentieth Television is blazing a new trail in the U.S. with its offering of mobile programs for their customers via our V CAST 3G multimedia service." Hood commented, "We are proud to be working with Verizon Wireless and Vodafone on this dynamic new program format for mobile. News Corp. is extremely excited about the wireless space and is already working on a mobisode series inspired by the hit Fox show '24.' 'Love and Hate' and 'The Sunset Hotel' are further testament to our company's commitment to unite innovative Hollywood creativity with breakthrough technology and we couldn't be happier that they will premiere on Verizon Wireless' new V CAST phones."

"Love and Hate" introduces Twentieth Television's groundbreaking production approach it calls "manipulated reality," in which cast members work without a script and involve everyday citizens into their improvised performances and the series' storyline. "The Sunset Hotel" will be entirely scripted.

"By giving 'Love and Hate's' cast the freedom to work without a script and allow them to creatively weave interactions with non-actors into their craft, we add another level of intrigue and depth into this project. This is a low cost, yet distinctive production technique that we will continue to explore," Cook explained. "'The Sunset Hotel' features a captivating script and performances replete with enthralling melodrama that will engage consumers."