RIM’s BlackBerry World Movie Downloads Landing In U.S., U.K., Canada First, DRM-Free Music Downloads Heading To 18 Markets

Ahead of the grand unveiling of its next-gen BlackBerry 10 OS this week, and fresh from rebranding its app store to BlackBerry World (to flag up the multimedia content that will be up for grabs alongside the apps), RIM has revealed a few more details about what BlackBerry uses will be able to download from the store.

In a release that’s relatively light on details the company said the new BlackBerry World store will have “an extensive catalog of songs as well as movies and TV shows” — with content from “all major studios, music labels and top local broadcast networks”. RIM added that “most movies” would arrive in the store the same day they are released on DVD. Next day availability would also be offered for “many” current TV series.

There are no hard numbers in terms of the size of the multimedia catalog at launch (RIM’s Jeff Gadway has previously talked about there being 70,000 songs apps in BlackBerry World, when he spoke at CTIA’s MobileCon in October but the company has not released official figures for songs and movies). The release also does not specify who RIM is partnering with to supply the music and video content. We’ve asked RIM for more details and will update this story with any response. Expect full details to come out at the BB10 unveiling on Wednesday.

Update: RIM said it has partnered with ROVI and 7digital for music and video content. It added that it hasn’t disclosed exact numbers of songs, movies, and shows but described it as “a competitive offering that is growing daily by 50+ titles”.

The company said the video download and rental section in BlackBerry World will initially be available in the U.S., U.K. and Canada. Content will vary by region and distributor but RIM says customers will have access to movies from the following studios and independents:

20th Century Fox, Entertainment One (eOne), Lionsgate, MGM, National Film Board of Canada, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (US), Starz Digital Media, STUDIOCANAL, The Walt Disney Studios, Universal Pictures (UK), Warner Bros. Customers will also have access to TV shows from the following broadcasters and studios: ABC Studios, BBC Worldwide, CBC/Radio-Canada, CBS, DHX Media, ITV, National Geographic, NBCUniversal (UK), Nelvana, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (US), Starz Digital Media, Twentieth Century Fox Television, Univision Communications Inc, and Warner Bros.

While, on the music side, the DRM-free download section will initially be available in 18 countries — namely: Canada, U.S., U.K., Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Mexico, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Australia, India, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore — and will offer music from “all major and independent labels”, including:

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.

RIM has been drip-feeding tidbits of information about BB10 and its BB10 preparation — ramping up in earnest in the run up to the holiday period to try to detract attention from rival mobile makers and convince BlackBerry fans to wait for the launch of BB10 hardware in Q1. The official BB10 launch is due on Wednesday so BlackBerry fans shouldn’t have too much longer to wait.