BlackBerry secures TV content deals with PBS and Viacom

BB10 store to feature shows from MTV, Comedy Central, and more.
Ahead of the BlackBerry 10 unveiling, BlackBerry announced the new OS would feature content from film and music studios such as 20th Century Fox, Disney, Sony Music, Warner Music, and more.
The firm has now secured key television deals with PBS, Univision and Viacom, meaning content from Comedy Central, MTV and Downton Abbey will all be available on BlackBerry World for US users.
It's good news for the company, as it recently hit the 100,000 BB10 apps milestone, a 30,000 growth in seven weeks since launching.
Martyn Mallick, ViP of global alliances and business development at BlackBerry, said: "The momentum for BlackBerry 10 continues in the content space as more partners are looking to BlackBerry to reach new audiences and drive mobile content discovery and monetisation.
"We’re excited that PBS, Univision and Viacom have joined us to give customers in the US access to enjoy a world of content, from the major film studios, broadcasters and TV studios and networks, in a single location.”
Kevin Conroy, president of digital and enterprise development, Univision, added: "Univision is pleased to make UVideos, the first bilingual digital video network, available on the much anticipated BlackBerry Z10. Moreover, for the first time, we will also make some of Univision's best TV series and telenovelas available in the video store on BlackBerry World on a transactional basis.
"More than three quarters of the US Hispanic population own a smartphone and they outpace their non-Hispanic counterparts in mobile video consumption by double digits. Mobile is where Hispanic America lives and this product launch extends Univision’s commitment to deliver the best in Hispanic programming across all platforms and devices."
Tom Gorke, SVP of content distribution for Viacom Media Networks, said: "Our audiences are increasingly turning to their smartphones to drop in on South Park, Jersey Shore, or SpongeBob SquarePants in Bikini Bottom anytime, anywhere they’d like. BlackBerry 10 is a great and growing platform for audiences to catch up with their favorite shows on the go, and for Viacom to extend the expansive reach of its beloved brands."

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...-viacom/020967