QuickPlay Media Announces Mobile TV for BlackBerry® Smartphones

Wednesday, April 1st, 2009
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On Demand Video, Temporary Download Service Will Deliver Full Episodes of Popular TV Programming from Leading Networks such as NBC, MTV Networks, CBS and The CW

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Booth #5112, CTIA Wireless Conference — QuickPlay Media, the premier provider of solutions that manage the business of mobile video, today announced the upcoming launch of its PrimeTime2Go™ premium mobile TV service. The monthly subscription fee-based service will be available in early May via the BlackBerry App World™ storefront, and will enable consumers to download and watch full-length episodes of their favorite shows on-demand including NBC’s “The Office,” CBS’s “CSI,” MTV’s “The Hills,” a part of MTV Networks, and The CW’s “90210” anytime, anywhere.

QuickPlay will offer PrimeTime2Go in the US on the BlackBerry® Bold™ and BlackBerry Curve™ 8900 smartphones, which are currently available to AT&T and T-Mobile customers. The service will allow customers to easily browse extensive catalogs of content and download selected programs to their smartphone in the background, thereby allowing them to use other services while shows are loading. Following the download, subscribers will be able to watch their selected program on their schedule until the pre-determined viewing period expires. All selected content will be delivered over Wi-Fi which provides cost savings, since it will not impact the user’s data usage.

For added convenience, subscribers will have the ability to watch the TV shows offline. PrimeTime2Go will also provide capabilities that allow consumers to pause a program, exit the application and then resume viewing from where they left off upon re-entering the service.

“Media-friendly devices are increasingly becoming the preferred source of entertainment. With the PrimeTime2Go service, BlackBerry® users will have fast and easy access to a vast library of popular content that’s worth watching,” said Wayne Purboo, president and CEO, QuickPlay Media. “With the ability to quickly download and view the hottest television shows at an affordable price, whenever and wherever it’s convenient, PrimeTime2Go will give consumers an unmatched mobile experience while providing a strong revenue stream for content providers and operators.”

Future enhancements to the PrimeTime2Go service will include the addition of new premium content from notable broadcast and cable networks and the extension of the service to other BlackBerry® smartphones. Customers will also have the ability to subscribe to an entire season of shows and have them automatically downloaded to their device soon after their original air date.

“Our partnership with QuickPlay will give NBC’s fans a new way to enjoy their favorite shows on their BlackBerry® smartphones wherever they go,” said Ron Lamprecht, Senior Vice President, Sales Business Development, NBC Universal Digital Distribution.

“BlackBerry® smartphones reach a large number of consumers and we’re excited to extend the reach of CBS and CW content further through this service,” said Jeff Sellinger, Executive Vice President and General Manager, CBS Mobile.

“We are excited to make our hit programming available through QuickPlay’s PrimeTime2Go, an innovative new way to experience mobile entertainment,” said Greg Clayman, Executive Vice President of Digital Distribution and Business Development, MTV Networks. “This service will truly enable us to further engage with our audiences around some of our most popular shows.”

“QuickPlay’s announcement of its PrimeTime2Go application is an encouraging proof point of the emerging trend we’re seeing in terms of leveraging Wi-Fi technology to move mobile traffic, at a significant cost savings to the end customer,” said Scott Ellison, vice president, mobile consumer services at IDC. “By combining premium content, consumer-friendly download mechanisms and a smooth user experience, QuickPlay’s service will be a great example of the future of mobile entertainment.”

Pricing and Availability

PrimeTime2Go will be available in early May, as a $7.99 monthly subscription. To access the service, subscribers will need to visit BlackBerry® App World™ storefront on their compatible smartphones, browse to the “Music and Video” category, select PrimeTime2Go, and then follow the instructions to download and install the application.