Don't like cable? Ladies and gentleman, Playstation Vue

[Titan]

Kinda surprised no one posted about this yet. This is the new TV streaming service that is coming to both PS3 and PS4 in 2015 that streams live tv through your console. It's impressive that they so far have 75 channels lined up. What is also cool is that you can tag a TV show and you have a month to watch it. Also has the staples like pause and record as well. They are also talking about some on demand service as well. Couldn't find anything on price point but it will definitely beat the 100 bucks cable companies charge every month

http://www.cnet.com/news/sony-to-launch-online-tv-service-to-challenge-cable-tv/

Sony's PlayStation is diving into the entertainment business in a way that may worry cable and satellite companies.

Sony on Thursday unveiled its long-teased online TV service, known as PlayStation Vue, which will kick off with around 75 channels for each market with TV shows, movies and other programs from major networks and local stations -- all without a cable or satellite subscription.

During the initial test rollout, viewers will be able to tune into channels from six media conglomerates: CBS, Fox, NBCUniversal, Discovery Communications, Scripps Networks and Viacom. The 75 channels will include paid-TV stalwarts such as Animal Planet, National Geographic, Oxygen, Sprout, Syfy, HGTV, Food Network, Travel Channel, Comedy Central, MTV and Nickelodeon. (Editors' note: CNET is owned by CBS.)

PlayStation Vue marks the first multi-channel television service that runs over the Internet and bypasses the traditional cable and satellite TV providers. For Sony, Vue is the company's attempt to dominate the living room beyond video games, turning its PlayStation console into a hub for the home. The online service could potentially be a boon to cord-cutters -- consumers who eschew traditional paid-TV for a broadband connection and a collection of online video services -- although the price of Sony's service will be a key factor.

While Sony touted "transparent pricing with no commitments," the company did not disclose how much the service will cost, saying more details would come when Vue launches commercially in early 2015. The service will be sold on a month-to-month basis.

The service will initially be available as an invite-only beta during November for a limited number of PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 owners. Sony is eyeing a phased rollout starting in New York and then shifting to Chicago, Philadelphia and Los Angeles.

PlayStation Vue will then will debut on the iPad and eventually on more Sony and non-Sony devices.

Its commercial launch is set for the first quarter of 2015.

Sony is playing up the ease of the service as an alternative to traditional paid-TV services like cable and satellite. Users will be able to search for TV shows and movies and explore live and on-demand TV based on genre, popularity and other factors. The service will recommend shows and movies based on viewing history.

"Everyday TV is about to become extraordinary with our new cloud-based TV service, PlayStation Vue," Andrew House, Group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, said in a statement. "PlayStation Vue reinvents the traditional viewing experience so your programming effortlessly finds you, enabling you to watch much more of what you want and search a lot less."

On-demand content will be available for up to three days, so watchers don't necessarily need to set the DVR. They can also save shows and movies online without storage limitations. Users will have up to 28 days to watch any content they've stored in the cloud.

While Sony has many key media partners lined up for the service, it may not be a complete replacement for those used to a full offering of cable and satellite channels. Notably missing from the announcement are channels under the Disney umbrella, including king of cable-TV sports ESPN, as well as AMC, home of the uber-popular television show, "The Walking Dead." Also missing are ABC and premium channels such as HBO.

There doesn't appear to be an option to pick and choose channels, also known as a la carte, with the channels bundled together like a traditional cable package.

Sony also isn't alone in its online aspirations. Companies like Verizon and Dish have both made big strides aimed at launching their online-only multi-channel video services soon, having lined up key programming partners like Viacom -- the parent company of channels like MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon -- and Disney.

Sony believes its base of PlayStation customers will serve as a foundation for its online TV service. House told Bloomberg that around 35 million PS3 and PS4 consoles are in circulation. He also said that these are largely owned by younger men who watch a fair amount of video content and don't mind paying for large cable packages. House also said he believes he can sway them to drop their cable TV subscriptions in favor of PlayStation Vue and even lure people who aren't gamers to buy a PlayStation just to get the new service.

Sony isn't the first video game company to dabble in home entertainment, although Vue represents a more ambitious attempt. Microsoft attempted to position its Xbox One console as an entertainment hub, allowing owners to hook their cable feed directly into the device. The company also attempted to create its own programming with Xbox Entertainment Studios before it was shut down last month. Nintendo likewise attempted to push its TVii service on its Wii U console early on.

Both Microsoft and Nintendo have since downplayed their respective entertainment features and have focused more on their core gaming capabilities and titles.

Sony did not immediately return a request for comment.

[Titan]

Bump

[Paul2]

interesting.  i guess that is a good alternative to cable but i am a cheapskate, i watch free over-the-air regular broadcast channels.  beside, i don't watch that much tv lately and its a good thing.  i just hope that i can go outside more like go to the park.  i haven't went to the park for a month and today is the first time i went back to the park.

but i can see this might be a good alternative to those that have cable and want to switch to vue.  not sure how much this vue will cost though.

[Titan]

PlayStation Vue launches in 3 markets in the next two weeks. If you live in Chicago, Philly or NYC, you can get it. Pricing details have been weirdly silent as of now. I'll keep an eye out and let you know I'm speculating in the 50-60 dollar a month range. But as for the full nationwide service, it launches later in 2015.

Though the channel line up is quite impressive, seems like it's lacking some big channels like AMC. So if you like the Walking Dead, stick with your cable/dish provider for the time being.

http://www.engadget.com/2015/03/11/playstation-vue-launch/

Sony's PlayStation-based streaming live TV service won't go live nationwide until sometime later in 2015. If you live in Chicago, Philadelphia or New York City, however, the service lights up "in the next two weeks." That's according to Sony Computer Entertainment head Andrew House -- he's the top PlayStation exec at Sony. House told the Wall Street Journal as much in an interview today, though he stopped short of providing details on pricing or launches in other parts of the US.

We've seen snippets of the service in action, like this piece from GigaOm; PlayStation Vue is available in a private beta in New York City. Reports say that the service is as good or better than what Dish's Sling TV service offers, though it's missing some critical channels that Dish picked up: namely, ESPN, IFC, AMC, and CNN. And it doesn't hurt that Sling TV is available on a variety of devices, whereas PlayStation Vue is used with a PlayStation 3 or PlayStation 4 game console.

We previewed Sling TV a few months back, seen here:

Sony's TV streaming service will offer a variety of live channels at launch. Here's what Sony said when it announced the service back in November 2014:

        "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."

PlayStation Vue joins PlayStation Music in a revamp of Sony's entertainment offerings on its PlayStation platforms. Sony announced earlier this year that its Music Unlimited service would be shuttered in favor of a Spotify-powered platform now known as "PlayStation Music". The general rebranding is part of Sony's refocusing on PlayStation as a product identity within the electronics giant.

We'll have more coverage of PlayStation Vue in the coming weeks as it rolls out in select cities.

[Titan]

New details have been released such as prices. Basic package is 50 bucks a month but gets you a pretty good lineup of channels. Link is below. Sorry for the lack of quote. At work on my phone. Will edit when I get home.

http://www.tomsguide.com/us/playstation-vue-hands-on-pricing,news-20671.html#xtor=RSS-980

I am tired of paying high prices for tv and looking for a solutions to get around the high prices. But I have kids and don't have a playstation in every room.

[Titan]

I am tired of paying high prices for tv and looking for a solutions to get around the high prices. But I have kids and don't have a playstation in every room.

I don't know what they're planning for people in your situation. For me it would work since I have one TV and 2 PlayStations that can run this. I mean, the PS TV may be able to do it. I don't remember. But last I heard, they were phasing that out. Wonder if they'll replace it with something else.

From the Sony Press conference though, they did announce new markets in California and elsewhere and they are also doing an a la carte option so you can pay for just the channels you want, which is a nice change of pace and it's all cable customers have been asking for only since cable fucking came out.