NEW YORK – Cingular Wireless, the No. 1 U.S. cellphone service, 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.
Cingular, a venture of AT&T Inc. (T) and BellSouth Corp. (BLS), and its rivals Verizon Wireless, owned by Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) and Vodafone Group Plc (VOD), and Sprint Nextel Corp. (S) are all aiming to boost revenue with services such as video and music.
Verizon Wireless kicked off its video service in February 2005 with "24: Conspiracy," a mini version of a popular TV series on the Fox television network.
Cingular said its mini "Entourage" series, with episodes that last 4 minutes each, will follow one story line based on "Entourage" character Johnny Drama and not distract from the regular series. HBO is owned by Time Warner Inc. (TWX).
The wireless company said it would also show full-length episodes from the first season of "Entourage" and from other popular shows such as "Sex and The City" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm."
Cingular customers who wish to watch "Entourage" must sign up for Cingular's $14.99 monthly media plan and its HBO premium service which costs another $4.99 a month.
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