News
Sony to Launch Cloud-Based TV Service 'PlayStation Vue'
posted on by Egan Loo
Sony announced on Thursday PlayStation Vue, a cloud-based television service that will launch commercially on PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 systems (as well as iPad later) in North America in the first quarter of 2015. It will initially offer around 75 channels during the invite-only beta preview which starts this month. The channels include:
- 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.
The service will offer instant viewing of popular programming from the past three days without the need to schedule recordings beforehand. Sony promises that the service will have "transparent pricing with no commitments." Specifically, it promises month-to-month billing with no contracts, cancellation fines, or equipment and installation charges.
The beta preview will begin New York, followed by Chicago, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles.
[Via Gematsu]
