PlayStation TV: Sony to bring internet TV service to the PS4

As Microsoft continues to right all of its Xbox One wrongs, its upcoming console has been catching up to Sony’s PS4. One of the features the PS4 never had over the Xbox One, though, was the console’s ability to tap into and alter live television with an interactive overlay. Now, as Sony signs a deal with Viacom, it looks as though the PS4 will feature a subscription-based television service.


Here in the States, cable television is a hot-button topic. The market competition for rival, near-equivalent cable packages is staggering, and services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Instant only muddy the waters of choice. Television is a huge part of modern-day life, whether you only watch sports, only watch shameful-but-fun reality shows, or only watch Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones. Even your friend who very obnoxiously rides atop a high horse about not owning a TV just watched Orange is the New Black on Netflix. So, despite all of the Xbox One’s past missteps, one important feature the console has over the PlayStation 4 is that it can interact — live — with all of your favorite televised shows and events. Not to be outdone by this, Sony and Viacom have a tentative deal in place where Sony will have access to all of Viacom’s hit television properties. This includes MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and VH1.
Sony will wield the channels as part of an internet television service the company is looking to begin. Sony’s currently unnamed service wouldn’t follow the Netflix strategy of offering television shows sometime after they air on cable, but instead would allow subscribers to watch live cable feeds. While that is groundbreaking enough to potentially disrupt the current cable service market, what’s even better news is Sony would bring this service to the PlayStation brand. So, rather than hooking your cable subscription into your Xbox One and having some kind of overlay, Sony’s service would allow you to subscribe to and access cable through your console, rather than being victim to expensive cable packages filled with channels you never watch.

Now, a cable service that only consists of Sony properties and Viacom channels wouldn’t be the most appealing. However, now that the Viacom news has slipped out, Sony has approached Time Warner and Disney about programming deals as well. A “hey guys, Viacom’s cool with it” pitch is much better than a “no one wants to be on our service, please join” pitch. Along with the PS4, Sony has plans to bring the service to the PS3 as well as its own televisions. Back on June 26, Sony trademarked the term “PlayStation TV,” so it does appear as though Sony will be pushing the service on its gaming products, if not directly tailoring the service to the consoles.
Reports also suggest Sony will be rolling out this service before the end of the year, which is a time when the PS4 is expected to be available at retail. However, Sony would likely need more programming available. Sports and news would be the prime targets, as those are arguably the only genres of television programming that needs to be watched live and aren’t available on services like Netflix. If Sony can grab more programming, then the PS4 could find its way into homes that aren’t necessarily looking for a games machine, just like the PS2 found its way into homes as a DVD player.