ABC, ABC Family, Disney Channel, Disney XD, ESPN and Discovery Communications have joined a mobile TV line-up for BlackBerry that already includes the CW, CBS and NBC Universal channels including Bravo, USA and Sci Fi.

These networks have joined mobile video service provider QuickPlay Media's PrimeTime2Go premium mobile TV service, now available in the U.S. for the BlackBerry Bold and Curve 8900 smartphones, which are currently available to AT&T and T-Mobile customers, respectively. The monthly subscription fee-based service lets consumers download and watch the most recent episodes of their favorite shows on-demand.

"The service provides TV networks and cable providers with an innovative new way to increase audience engagement and viewing time for its programming, as well as a means of growing their viewer base," said Tina Kaichis, director of marketing communications and channel marketing for QuickPlay, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

QuickPlay provides a way for communications companies including Research In Motion, Bell and AT&T to deliver mobile video.

The PrimeTime2Go platform is monetized via subscription and is based around a revenue-sharing model.

Consumers interested in PrimeTime2Go can download the application from BlackBerry App World on their BlackBerry smartphone, where they can browse the "Music and Video" category to download the service and immediately begin browsing the catalog of content.

Priced at $7.99 per month, PrimeTime2Go features full-length episodes of some of today's most popular entertainment and news programs, including ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives"; CBS's "CSI," "NCIS," "Harper's Island" and "The Young and the Restless"; and NBC's "The Office" and "Heroes."

In addition, PrimeTime2Go subscribers can access ABC Family's "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" and "Greek"; ABC News' "World News with Charles Gibson," "20/20" and "Nightline"; and Bravo's "Top Chef."

Other popular shows available via QuickPlay include the Discovery Channel's "Out of the Wild: The Alaska Experiment"; the Disney Channel's "Hannah Montana," and "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse"; Disney XD's "Aaron Stone," "Phineas and Ferb" and "Kid vs. Kat"; and ESPN's "PTI," "Around the Horn" and "Game Up."

Other highlights include Sci Fi's "Ghost Hunters International"; the CW's "90120" and "America's Next Top Model"; TLC's "Jon & Kate Plus 8"; and USA's "Monk"

Additional highly rated shows from Discovery Channel and Animal Planet will be available shortly. These include the Discovery Channel's "Shark Week" and Animal Planet's "Whale Wars."

Following the download of any selected program, which occurs in the background over Wi-Fi networks, subscribers will be able to watch their selection anytime and anywhere until the pre-determined viewing period expires.

To enhance the experience, PrimeTime2Go includes several key features, including My Series, which enables consumers to select their favorite TV series and have new episodes automatically downloaded to their device soon after the original air date.

The Pause and Resume features lets consumers pause a program, exit the application and then resume viewing from where they left off upon re-entering the service.

PrimeTime2Go currently does not include any ad-supported programming.

QuickPlay promoted the service at RIM's WES 2009 Conference last week in Orlando at its booth. The company is also promoting the service on its PrimeTime2Go Web site, on its corporate Web site, on its Facebook page and via Twitter feeds.

The service is currently being promoted by RIM as a featured app in the BlackBerry App Store and is also a featured app on their BlackBerry Facebook page.

From a network perspective, NBC is promoting the service through banner ads on Web sites across its numerous network properties, with additional marketing initiatives to come.

"TV networks are under constant pressure to maintain their current viewers while at the same time identifying new ways to get these individuals to spend more time watching their favorite programs," Ms. Kaichis said. "The first ?new medium' option for these networks was the Internet.

"Now with PrimeTIme2Go, we deliver a service that enables networks to extend their programming to a viewers' BlackBerry, including key components such as ingesting the content, ensuring quality delivery optimized for each device, DRM protection and reporting and analytics," she said.