(27 October 2006 6:00 pm)

MUMBAI:Global media firm Zonemedia has announced the launch of the first made-for-mobile horror series, When Evil Calls in the UK.

Digital channel Zone Horror and its sister company Zone Mobile, have joined forces with Pure Grass Films to create the 20-episode series. The series launched in association with British mobile firm O2. Viewers who prefer a more traditional TV watching experience will be able to tune into Zone Horror next week, when a behind the scenes documentary will be broadcast.

When Evil Calls centres around the mysterious appearance of a text message that grants the students at Willburn Hall their wildest desires. A-cup Alice wants bigger breasts, until her cup runneth over in an explosive mathematics class. Hilary would give her right arm to lose weight and the blades of a kitchen waste disposal unit oblige. One by one, Willburn s students learn a lethal lesson: be careful what you wish for.

When Evil Calls is written and directed by rising British horror star Johannes Roberts. Each two minute episode has been shot expressly for mobile devices. It stars Jennifer Lim, Dominique Pinon and Chris Barrie.

Roberts says, "When Evil Calls has forged new ground in my film-making career. Shooting two minute episodes meant really focusing the writing and intensifying the story. The result is a fast-paced, hilarious and scary romp that I hope will be enjoyed on cell phones throughout the world."

The series is available for download for O2 customers in the UK via O2 Active. Customers can access the content from within the Film section of the O2 Active portal or alternatively they can text the word WISH to 61616 where they will receive a WAP push with a WAP URL which will link them straight into the content. It will also be available on general release through the Zone Horror Wap site and all major UK mobile operators.

Zone Horror's Tanya Gugenheim says, "We are breaking new ground. Mobile television is set to change they way we tune in to our entertainment. Together with our partners Pure Grass Films and O2, Zone Horror is proud to present a small screen series with big screen production values."

O2 UK capability and innovation director Russ Shaw says, "We are very pleased to be delivering such a high value video production to our customers across the entire video enabled device range through O2 Active. When Evil Calls is a great piece of light entertainment that our subscribers will have a lot of fun with during the Halloween season and beyond."

Producers Zone Horror and Pure Grass Films advise viewer discretion as the series contains scenes of a violent and sexual nature, horror, nudity and intimidation. O2 will only make the series available after the 9 pm watershed to safeguard the younger audience.