TV series for the very small screen

Le-TV hopes the cell phone series will become a popular trend.

• Mobile TV sets broadcasting trend

• Internet-based TV starts making inroads

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(CNN) -- A group of scriptwriters behind China's latest television soap opera may change the habits of diehard couch potatoes -- the series has been written exclusively for mobile phones.

Called "The Appointment," the romantic soap centers around two motorcycle racers who fall in love with the same girl.

Series producer Liu Hong told CNN that each episode was just five minutes long and the entire series was 25 minutes.

"The big advantage is convenience. You don't have to sit in front of the TV to enjoy it. You can bring the soap opera anywhere you like, including at the airport or in a taxi," he said.

He says there is very little dialogue and a lot of close-ups because detail is lost on the small screen if characters make lots of gestures.

"The drama is very different from a traditional show on TV. We use a very short storytelling style. To hold the audience on such a small screen, each story will reach its climax in just a few minutes."

China's mobile phone market is the biggest in the world -- 400 million people there own a cell phone and competition between the networks is intense for customers.

"The Appointment" is made by Beijing's Le-TV Media Group and can be viewed only on top of the range phones with Internet connections that are made by Korea's LG Electronics.

But Liu predicts the craze will take off and will eventually become a popular subscriber service.

"As mobile phone prices go down, more people will be able to afford them, which will help our shows become popular. In fact, we are planning to shoot one or two more this year," he said.

"I believe millions of people will watch our soap opera. As long as we put on a good show, I am certain it will be successful."

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