Sony announces Internet-based TV service, PlayStation Vue

Sony appears to be getting in on the TV game with their newly-announced PlayStation Vue service.

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Sony has announced they will be bringing its PlayStation Vue, which is an internet-based television service, to PlayStation consoles and additional devices later this year.

At its launch, PlayStation Vue will launch with around 75 channels per market, which includes local broadcast networks and cable channels from a number of media companies like Fox, NBCUniversal and Viacom. Subscribers will also be able to enjoy on-demand content, as long as they’re at least three days old and are a part of what Sony considers to be “popular programming.” Viewers will be able to save episodes of their favorite shows to Sony’s cloud and be able to access these programs for up to 28 days.

Sony released a partial list of channels PlayStation Vue subscribers can expect to view:

  • CBS - At launch, PlayStation Vue will offer the live linear signal from CBS Television Network's owned-and-operated TV stations in select leading markets in addition to on-demand prime-time programming.
  • Discovery Communications - Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery, Science, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, Discovery Family Channel and 11 more brands.
  • Fox - Fox Networks Group's portfolio of national entertainment programming services, including - FX, FXX, FXM, National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo WILD. Additionally FOX Sports' national and regional programming services - FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports 2, BTN, Fox's regional sports networks, including YES Network and Prime Ticket. The agreement also covers Fox's owned and operated television stations.
  • NBCUniversal - All local offerings from NBC, Telemundo and regional sports networks as well as Bravo, CNBC, E!, NBCSN, Oxygen, Sprout, Syfy, USA Network and more.
  • Scripps Networks Interactive - HGTV, Food Network, Travel Channel, DIY Network and Cooking Channel.
    Viacom - BET, CMT, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Palladia, Spike, VH1 and more.

Sony didn’t disclose pricing for PlayStation Vue, but the company did say they will offer subscriptions on a month-to-month basis with no contracts, no hidden fees and no cancellation charges at a “fair and competitive price.” An invite-only beta will launch later this month on both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 first in the New York area, then the beta will branch out to Chicago, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. PlayStation Vue is expected to make its official launch in the first quarter of 2015.

It's kind of interesting to see Sony take this route shortly after Microsoft made its Xbox One an all-in-one entertainment console with its ability to watch TV straight from your dashboard. Many were actually hoping Microsoft would offer a service similar to this one rather than simply plugging your cable box into the Xbox One, so I'm certainly interested to see how well PlayStation Vue does for Sony considering it's the only way to get live TV playing on your PlayStation consoles.

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