Showtime to Offer Video via Cell Phones

Fans of Showtime’s Weeds and The L Word can now access show video clips via their mobile phones.

The pay TV service teamed up with Mobile Streams to offer an off-deck wireless-application-protocol platform to distribute network-programming content, Showtime executives said.

Mobile users with 2.5-G or 3-G handsets can access the site (wap.sho.com) on their phones to get video clips and wallpapers from such shows as Dexter, Weeds, The Underground, The L Word and Showtime Championship Boxing.

In addition, mobile users can send text messages to the network to request more content and information on Dexter as part of the network’s multimedia promotional campaign surrounding the series’ launch this month.

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.