The big picture: As premium streaming services repeatedly hike prices, free, ad-supported alternatives are growing. Apps such as Tubi and Pluto TV are creating what some call an IP-based form of broadcast TV, with Sony the latest to join the trend, likely to monetize its user base and media properties further.
PlayStation 5 owners in the US can now watch over 100 live TV channels from the PS5's main menu. Available content includes various ad-supported movies, TV shows, sports events, and news broadcasts at no extra cost.
There is no app to download. Live TV appears directly in the main menu's media section on the latest firmware, and users can navigate to streaming content without booting into an app.
Live sports, news, and weather from sources and brands such as Fox, NBC, NASCAR, and UFC begin playing in the background as soon as users enter the live-TV section, with a cable-like channel guide overlaid on top. Other available channels include MovieSphere, FilmRise Free Movies, Crunchyroll, and more.
Users can watch TV shows like The Walking Dead, Unsolved Mysteries, Deal or No Deal, A+E's History, Hunter x Hunter, Sailor Moon, Black Clover, and more. Additional programming and channels are on the way. Sony aims to expand its service to Canada and other regions but has not specified when.
Sony's surprise move follows the rise of other free, ad-supported streaming networks such as Tubi and Pluto TV, providing another affordable alternative to premium streamers such as Netflix and Disney+. Subscription-based streaming was an attractive, cheap alternative to cable in its early days, but repeated rounds of price hikes over the past several years have left viewers wondering whether the business model has circled back around to become cable.
In light of this, the emergence of free, ad-supported services feels like the return of broadcast TV, only over IP and on the other side of a login screen. Even the login screen is optional in Tubi's case. Netflix and Disney+ are considering similar options.
For Sony, the move also presents another opportunity to monetize the existing PS5 audience further, as rising hardware costs make expansion more difficult. The memory crisis has pushed the PlayStation 5 Pro's price to $900, and rumors suggest that a $1,000 PlayStation 6 is a strong possibility. To navigate these challenges, CEO Hideaki Nishino recently emphasized a plan to prioritize profitability over growth.
