Sony Announces 'Video On Demand powered by Qriocity™' Extending Into Europe

BERLIN, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- In November 2009, Sony Corporation (Sony) said that it was developing a network service platform called Sony Online Services (SOLS), which is now called Qriocity™.  Qriocity is a network service platform that connects many of Sony's network-enabled devices and allows consumers to enjoy high quality entertainment across multiple devices.  Via Qriocity, Sony will deliver a variety of digital entertainment content and services that are "powered by Qriocity", including video, music, game applications, and e-books over time, and through these services, and in combination with its networked devices, Sony aims to bring new and exciting entertainment experiences to customers.

Today at the IFA 2010 show in Berlin, Sony announced that "Video On Demand powered by Qriocity™", a premium streaming video service, will be available this fall in five European countries including France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.K.  With "Video On Demand powered by Qriocity," customers can choose from hundreds of box office hits from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, Lionsgate, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM), NBC Universal International Television Distribution, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, The Walt Disney Company, and Warner Bros. Digital Distribution, as well as popular content from top local studios. Many movies are available in High Definition (HD) as well as Standard Definition (SD), and all can be rented at the touch of a button on Sony's 2010 models of network-enabled BRAVIA® TVs and Blu-ray Disc™ players, and Blu-ray Home Theater systems.  "Video On Demand powered by Qriocity" has been available in the U.S. since April 2010.

Sony also announced plans to introduce "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity™", a new, cloud-based, digital music service.  Available by year's end, "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity" will give music lovers access to millions of songs stored and synchronized through the cloud.  "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity" will initially be available across Sony's 2010 models of network-enabled BRAVIA TVs, Blu-ray Disc players, Blu-ray Home Theater systems, as well as PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems and VAIOs and other personal computers, and will become increasingly available on a range of Sony's portable devices.

"Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity" brings together the features cited as most important by music enthusiasts. With access to a huge library of songs through the cloud, users can discover new music through channels personalized to their tastes on multiple devices and without the requirement to manage digital music files. The convenience resulting from this new consumer music experience will further enhance the value of music, thus creating new opportunities for the industry.  Details of the service plan will be announced in the future.

"We are excited to offer our customers high quality, cloud-based entertainment experiences across many of Sony's network-enabled devices," said Kazuo Hirai, President of Networked Products & Services Group, Sony Corporation. "Services 'powered by Qriocity' will revolutionize the way that users play, listen, watch, share, communicate, learn, discover and create their digital entertainment content."

"Qriocity" is a trademark of Sony Corporation

"PlayStation" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

SOURCE Sony Corporation