Sony Computer Entertainment America plans on streaming video games through PlayStation Now and TV shows through PlayStation Vue. This cloud streaming service allows users to watch TV shows on demand without having to record them. Popular shows will be available for the past three days. Users can also tag their favorite shows and save episodes to the cloud without any storage restrictions. Saved episodes can be viewed for up to 28 days.
An invite only beta for PlayStation Vue is scheduled for November starting in New York with Philadelphia, Chicago, and Los Angeles afterwards. Beta participants will be able to watch TV programming on a PlayStation 3 or PlayStation 4. Here’s a list of network partners currently announced for PlayStation Vue:
- 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 will rollout to iPad devices after the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 tests. Sony plans to bring the service to more Sony and non-Sony devices in the future. As for pricing, Sony Computer Entertainment did not disclose details. The service will not have a long term contract, but it will have a monthly fee PlayStation Vue is planned to launch in the first quarter of 2015.
