Sony unveils Internet TV in challenge to major networks
Sony (Tokyo Stock Exchange: 6758.T-JP) unveiled its online TV service offering live content and on-demand programs through PlayStation consoles on Thursday as it tries to take on traditional cable providers.
PlayStation Vue will offer 75 channels per market, including channels from major networks such as CBS (CBS), Fox and NBCUniversal.
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The Japanese electronics maker will roll out a beta version this month to selected PlayStation 3 and 4 users across New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Philadelphia, with the service becoming commercially available in the first quarter of 2015.
Sony's offering is the latest product to be thrown into the highly competitive space dominated by Netflix (NFLX). Video streaming services are posing a serious challenge to traditional TV entities. In the U.S., Netflix has 37.5 million subscribers compared to 22.4 million for Comcast (CMCSA) and 20.4 million for DirectTV (DTV), according to IHS.
Netflix is also well ahead of Internet TV platform Hulu which has just 7.1 million subscribers. But analysts said that PlayStation Vue is a direct challenge to cable networks rather than Internet-only platforms, with the live TV offering being a big advantage in the online video market.
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"The big question at the moment is will people drop their incredibly expensive cable subscriptions in favor of just living an on-demand life," Michael Underhill, senior research analyst at Enders Analysis told CNBC by phone.
"But if you can bundle live events like sports and shows in to a price that doesn't tie you in in the long term, and it's delivered over the Internet, then that is quite unique."
'Fair' pricing
Users will be able to view the service through their PlayStation consoles and eventually on Apple's (AAPL) iPad, a move that analysts said would be a big boost for Sony, considering the more than 90 million people who own a PlayStation 3 and 4.
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"Today's announcement builds on the historic success of PlayStation 4 and demonstrates what our company is capable of when we embrace disruption and stay true to gamers," Andrew House, president and group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, said in a press release.
Pricing and packages will be revealed at the commercial launch of the service, Sony said, adding that it would be "fair and competitive". The electronics giant said it would be a month-by-month subscription service.
TV companies will react
Cost is likely to be critical to the success of PlayStation Vue, one analyst said, with TV companies likely to react by making their broadband and TV bundles more attractive to counter the threat from Sony.
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"The issue for Sony is for them to keep the price low enough to compete with an operator that can bundle services into one attractive package," Richard Broughton, head of broadband media at IHS, told CNBC by phone.
"There may well be a response from TV companies by making their bundle packages more attractive."
