• February 5, 2009

Microsoft will offer original programming for its Zune portable media player starting with "Cinemash," a comedy series created with arts and entertainment magazine Mean.

The move is aimed at boosting flagging sales of the device, which fell 54% in the fourth quarter to $117 million. There are 3 million Zune owners compared to 173 million iPod owners. Debuting this spring, "Cinemash" will be a free, ad-supported show unfolding in eight three- to-five-minute episodes featuring celebrities playing roles they wished they had landed.

Mean had already produced a series of Web shorts before the Microsoft partnership starring James McAvoy, Elizabeth Banks, Kate Beckinsale, Ben Kingsley and Seth Rogen and viewed by more than a million viewers. The planned lineup of Zune content over the next year will span live-action and animated comedy to urban-themed and music programming.

Downloads will initially be available through the Zune Marketplace as well as platforms including MSN and Xbox Live in the future.--Mark Walsh