RIM reveals extensive BlackBerry World multimedia licensing

BlackBerry 10 users will have access to an enormous catalogue of DRM-free films, TV series and music courtesy of BlackBerry World’s licensing deals, RIM has revealed.

The platform’s app and content store will release most films on the same day they launch on DVD, while episodes from TV series will become available the day after they air, according to a press release.

‘The competitive offering will feature content from all major studios, music labels and top local broadcast networks. Customers will be able to preview tracks and access the content using multiple payment options,’ a RIM statement reveals.

For TV and film, that extensive list of studios, producers and publishers includes:

• Twentieth Century Fox
• Entertainment One (eOne)
• Lionsgate
• MGM
• National Film Board of Canada
• Paramount Pictures
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
• Starz Digital Media
• STUDIOCANAL
• Walt Disney Studios
• Universal Pictures
• Warner Bros
• ABC Studios
• BBC Worldwide
• CBC/Radio-Canada
• CBS
• DHX Media
• ITV
• National Geographic
• NBCUniversal
• Nelvana
• Univision Communications Inc.

For music, you’re looking at content from 4AD Records, Domino Recording Company, finetunes, Matador Records, [PIAS] Entertainment Group, Rough Trade Records, Sony Music Entertainment, The Orchard, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, XL Recordings and Zebralution.

‘Music and video content is an integral part of a rich mobile experience. People want easy and convenient access to their favourite music, movies and TV shows wherever they are,’ said Frank Boulben, Chief Marketing Officer at Research In Motion.

‘RIM is committed to working with content providers to bring the best, most up-to-date content to our customers with BlackBerry 10, and to make it easy for them to get what they want.’

This is a seriously competitive multimedia offering by anyone’s standards and will mean BlackBerry should be more than capable of going toe-to-toe with the likes of Android and iOS, as well as services such as Netflix, Lovefilm and Spotify.

RIM hasn’t said when the service will go live but it’s a fairly safe bet it will coincide with the BlackBerry 10 launch event on January 30 when the company will unveil its new operating system and new handset hardware.

We’ll be covering the event and will bring you all the information as it emerges.