Sony Reaches Programming Deal With Viacom for Online Pay-TV Service

Sony Corp. has reached a preliminary agreement with Viacom Inc. to carry the media company's cable channels on its planned Internet-based TV service, a person familiar with the matter said, a significant boost for the Japanese company as it races to secure content rights against technology firms vying to offer similar services.

[GribbleGrunger]

Bring this to PS3 and suddenly I can see another reason the 12GB PS3 makes sense. No cable box required.

[XisThatKid]

Yea didn't everyone say that this was goin to be X1's Ace in the hole? Yea this isn't important but its cool and def a great addition to an already presumed great console. Yea When this was an Xbox exclusive everyone on Sony's side was all boos and geers but I'm just glad Sony isn't advertising it as a cable box and games second ya know. All the bells and whistles are an added plus. This is ok for me I haven't paid for Cable TV in 14+ years so this Netflix and Hulu and torrents I may never agian.

[iamnsuperman]

"but I'm just glad Sony isn't advertising it as a cable box"

And that is the big difference. People were not booing Microsoft for TV functionality but for the fact it was such a big focus. Their "Ace in the hole" (if you don't mind me using your words). Now if Sony spends all of gamescom talking about this then I will verbal criticise them. I doubt they will do this though. We have had Netflixx, Iplayer....on our previous consoles and adding more is a natural step up. However, the big thing is these things are still games consoles. What Microsoft did was draw attention away from that using buzzwords like "watercooler" and making TV seem like a huge focus. People still buy consoles to play games. Things like TV are the "nice" but not so important extras.

[Jazz4108]

Sony is going to claw and scratch and fight this whole gen because if the ps4 goes down then sony does as well as they are really close to sinking according to the financial websites. Sony is fighting for the life of there company.

[XboxFun]

@Gribble

No goal posts were moved gribble.

There is no doubt from anyone here that the sony camp were relentless in calling the Xbox One a cable box or as you incorrectly mentioned the focus was too heavy on TV.

The early comments on N4G blew up and gained maximum heat from most posters criticizing MS and not wanting anything to do with TV for their gaming machine. And even when these features were always OPTIONAL it did not stop them from still mocking the Xbox as nothing more than a cable box.

As I have said before Sony was and IS going for the same goals as MS. To compete for dominance in the living room space. At least MS was more transparent in their goals.

But I am positive that these features for the PS4 will remain quiet and not gain as near enough traction as it did for MS. Either that or a spin cycle set to super. Which I am already seeing with comments (gotta love the sony fans on this site).

And MS is also securing TV deals with companies to do the same as Sony in this article they have already announced original programming. The whole HDMI in is an extra feature the Xbox One can do.

[iceman06]

I think that most gamers (Sony, Xbox, etc.) and the media walked away from the reveal underwhelmed. Why? Because the focus was not on the console as a gaming machine FIRST. MS billed it as the all-in-one entertainment device for the living room. You know when the last time we heard that was...PS3? Remember all of the comments of.."it's just a Blu-ray player? I want my console for games!" Then post reveal, somehow the tide changed and TV became cool and innovative somehow.
Point being, it's an added feature and it is good for those that like that much TV. It's not really special...for either console...it's just TV...you know...the same TV that most of either have already or have chosen NOT to have.

[nugnugs]

@Xboxfun
"At least MS was more transparent in their goals."
Need I type more?

[MrBeatdown]

"At least MS was more transparent in their goals."

Right. Who would have ever thought that a company that makes TV, and content, and TV content, and a console that's tagline was "It only does everything" would ever offer non-gaming features on their new console?

Sony totally snuck that one past us all. Should have mentioned TV at E3 or something. They did? Oh, well, maybe they should have put up a big screen that showed lots of non-game TV apps to really get the point across, like this...

http://www.gamernode.com/wp...

Oh, wait, that IS from E3.

Come out from under your rock some time. Weather is nice up here.

[KiLLUMiNATi_89]

Praise praise Sony now lmao... They bash MS for this but now N4Sony are ok with this.. Lmaoooo...

Sony n MS are aiming at the same crowd weather N4Sony like it or not... They both want to dominate the Living room... Praise praise....

[MRMagoo123]

except sony will dominate unlike MS with there bad news 180 console lol.

[ShinMaster]

You guys are clueless.

You seriously don't know the difference between a DVR(Xbox One) and an internet streaming service?

First of all, Sony did it first:
The PSX. A PS2 cable TV DVR (2003) http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...
PlayTV on PS3 (2008)
http://youtu.be/e3ma0U7GVrw
http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...
So Xbox One isn't "innovating" anything.

PS4 doesn't require a cable box.

[showtimefolks]

You know what I don't get is how now all of the sudden every gaming site is run by playstation fanboys, it was that long ago when it was all about he almight xbox360 and MS so what goes around comes around

I for one am very glad because I had to sit through hundreds of ps3 doom or Sony going out of business articles or how Sony should get out of the console business

I don't have cable so if this is true I am interested, as long as I won't need another cable box to plug thought I am up for trying this

Notice how when Sony announces something that don't take it back within few months because they haven't made a lot of bone headed moves

[Ausbo]

I don't think sony should do this. Its a good idea and all, but every sony supporter on this site rips on the xbox for doing tv...........but wait, since sony is investing in tv, it must be the right thing to do!!!!!!!!!!

[ShinMaster]

You seriously don't know the difference between a DVR(Xbox One) and an internet streaming service?

First of all, Sony did it first:
Xbox One is basically the PSX. A PS2 cable TV DVR (2003) http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...
PlayTV on PS3 which people have been using for years now.
http://youtu.be/e3ma0U7GVrw
http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...
So Xbox One isn't "innovating" anything.

An internet streaming service doesn't require a cable box. It makes more sense than a cable box pass-thru because it's providing something that you don't already have.

[Gamer1982]

This will come to PS4 no doubt in my mind, MS been after a deal like this for years and Sony beat them to the punch they gotta be gutted they did it. This deal could shift them millions more PS4s as they could subsidize the box in return for a contract.

[DA_SHREDDER]

that would save me over 50 bucks a month, i got 5 hd tvs and cable boxes cost over 10 a month to rent

[Xsilver]

i haven't watched cable in three years which is why i didn't care about the xone tv stuff since i knew i would have to get a cable company. But i go online to watch walking dead the community and parks and rec but if this is true then why not, since Sony owns most of these shows then that means i can stream them on my PS4 no cable box required add that in with Ps+ and i'm good.
Is it me or is Sony becoming the all in one box with gaikai you get all old games to stream which is BC in its own way now stream tv without needing another box.

[Notramagama]

This is ALREADY on xbox 360. FOR FREE!!! VIACOM MTV, NICKELODEON, AND CC apps. Sony fans stay blinded

[HammadTheBeast]

It's behind a pay wall and more like YouTube gtfo.

[alb1899]

Sudenly every one is ok with a console capable of featuring this things!

WAO!
All what you fans criticize from X1 just were tears because you SONY fans wanted the same......oh man!

[kenshiro100]

For all the 360 fans crying hypocrisy...you don't get it, do you? Microsoft just focused on entertainment and not enough on games.

That was the issue.

But keep trying guys. Maybe one day your 'ah-ha' moment will come.

[ZodTheRipper]

If it's gaining them money that they can spend on game budgets again I'm ok with it.

[timl241]

This is my problem...

Microsoft says you can plug in your cable box through the HDMI in port and you get all your TV channels. They get absolutely BLASTED for doing this feature. In my opinion, it's a great feature. Now I can instantly switch inputs between gaming and TV. Don't have to always lose the remote (big thing for me) and wait a few seconds for each input to load.

Sony says they made a deal with Viacom to allow the streaming of their channels. And now Sony fans are sucking their dicks saying this is awesome because you cut out the need for a cable box. That's all well and good, but I'd rather just hook up a simple HDMI cord to my console and have EVERY channel instead of having to stream channels that will more than likely cost to access. And don't use the cable box fees excuse. Most people here probably already own cable boxes because of their parents anyway.

All I am saying is every time MS does something it is terrible. Every time Sony follows it's great.

MS charges for online and that's bad, Sony charges and it's suddenly okay. MS makes it so you can hook your cable box (better technology), Sony makes it so you can stream some channels. Now all of a sudden Sony is great. HYPOCRISY at it's finest. I guess PS fans are infamous for it.

[Khajiit86]

Is the cable connection free?

PS+ has free games..... EVERY MONTH.
I dont need PS+ right now to play online but I have it because it is an amazing feature. Discounts on countless games, apps, gamer pictures, dynamic themes, free games, free apps, free gamer pictures, free dynamic themes..... you get the point.

I own a 360 as well and XBL simply cannot compete.

[AceBlazer13]

do i think sony should start charging for online play ? hell no. but to compare ps+ to xblg is plain as hell ignorant. dont go preaching about hypocrisy when xbox fans show their relief for every feature that has been changed to this point , the same features that they were supporting the day before.

[timl241]

Listen. I've supported MS since the beginning. It's all the Sony fans like you that were trolling about it that changed it. Just admit it, the Xbox one has a better feature. And you are right. Cable isn't free. But I can almost guarantee this will cost extra money. I'd rather hook up my cable box, seeing as I have cable anyway, for free. And I will also have triple if not quadruple the channels. Just like Xbox Live is better than PS+, this is better than Playstations TV service. Just end it.

[XboxFun]

That's pretty cool that the PS4 will have a good amount of TV functions.

Edit:
But I am pretty sure that most sony fans do not care about the TV functions of the PS4.

@Godmars
Nothing wrong with the Xbox camp since we were embracing the TV functionality from the very beginning. Maybe you should speak to your Sony camp and their limited short vision as they mocked MS for the supposed focus on TV functionality of the Xbox One.

[Godmars290]

What is it with the Xbox camp and this limited thinking?

Can't speak for anyone else, but I've said multiple times that I bought a PS3 for multimedia as well as gaming.

And given that its taken eight years to deliver on what both MS and Sony promised at the start of the PS3 and 360, both should be ashamed. More so that its coming in the forms that they are.

Edit:
Actually, it was being mocked for 1) being behind the paywall, 2) requiring a cable box and 3) being touted for DVR functionality while not actually having any.

I think the real arguments started because MS wasted a good two thirds talking about TV during their first presentation. With the rumors of what they had intended with used games and all already strong then, that mistake lead them to being further unbalanced at E3, only talking about games, and ultimately has lead to the mess they're currently in with all of the 180s.

Now to top all of that off Sony might just be doing their own thing with TV, and if not doing it better, may at the very least be able to do it w/o a cable box and a paywall atop any other fees.

If such turns out to be true it would only lead to embarrassment for MS after all of their posturing.

[British_Knight]

The XBOX camp loves multimedia features. The PS4 camp say they only care about games nothing more.

[DigitalRaptor]

@ British_Knight

The PS4 camp has the sense to know that a gaming console's reveal conference should not be mostly about non-gaming features.

We've known for years that Sony would have TV features in PS4, since PS3 has had them for years, but they're not what the console is built around, and looks better for it.

[Khajiit86]

PS3 is the original all in one device. As a PS3 owner I already know games will not be the only great thing about the PS4, but games is what attracts me to it.

[starchild]

I'm a PC gamer mostly and this console fanboy crap is annoying.

All this talk of stuff "being behind a paywall" is ridiculous and irrelevant. All of you console gamers are going to be paying to play online anyway so it's a pointless distinction. No hardcore gamer is going to forgo gaming online on their console.

As far as the different implementations of getting tv on these consoles, it's fundamentally the same thing. Both consoles will have TV streaming, while one simply also allows you to pass the signal of a cable or satelite box to integrate it into the console's UI.

[XisThatKid]

I agree besides one thing, alot of "the Xbox camp" was not on board with the cable thing xbox corp and fans alike but I see what your saying though. BUt then agian alot of the people I'm referring to is already converted to "The PlayStation Camp" thus not X1 camp anymore thus making said statement still true I guess. I'm not being facetious btw.

this is my previous comment as well for reference to me as a long time Sony fan recieving this "news"

"Yea didn't everyone say that this was goin to be X1's Ace in the hole? Yea this isn't important but its cool and def a great addition to an already presumed great console. Yea When this was an Xbox exclusive everyone on Sony's side was all boos and geers but I'm just glad Sony isn't advertising it as a cable box and games second ya know. All the bells and whistles are an added plus. This is ok for me I haven't paid for Cable TV in 14+ years so this Netflix and Hulu and torrents I may never agian."

[Rimeskeem]

you are mostly right about us not caring but its always a nice feature to have but diffidently not something im going to praise over

[AceBlazer13]

your embracing it now but im sure if it ever gets removed you'll be glad its gone.

[solidworm]

TV is shit period.

[badboy776]

I'm a 90's and 80's head. Todays TV,Music, Entertainment is garbage!!!

Saturday Morning Cartoons don't even come on anymore for the kids.

[pedrof93]

I'm european and I share the same opinion as you.

[HammadTheBeast]

I don't know, Cartoon Networks still good, but the rest is pretty bad. Only good TV shows in a while have been Game of Thrones, Walking Dead (partially) and Breaking Bad.

[kingPoS]

I know right. Most of the cartoons today are conservative marshmallow fluff. lol

The 90's were kickass, especialy after school.

[SilentNegotiator]

This is for you:
https://www.youtube.com/wat...

You only remember the good shows, that's the problem. All good entertainment, of every medium, is a flower in a manure field.

"For instance, what survives from the Vietnam era (thanks mostly to Vietnam movies) are songs like the badass protest song "Fortunate Son" by Creedence Clearwater Revival and "Gimme Shelter" by the Rolling Stones. Both were released in 1969, after the war started going bad. Now look at the Billboard year-end singles charts from 1946 to today. The top song in 1969? "Sugar, Sugar" by the Archies"
--Cracked

Do people today listen more to the f***ing Archies, or cherry picked songs that didn't even all top the charts?

[PickAShoe]

I use TV for weather channel lol, other than that read news in the web.

[user7402931]

as a ps4 fan i couldn't care less about this

[TXIDarkAvenger]

DAE 90's kids!?!

[thetruthx1]

I thought it was bad to have TV functions

Now it's cool I guess lol

[dcj0524]

No. It's bad if you % 65 of you're event is TV TV TV TV TV NFL TV TV COD

[WrAiTh Sp3cTr3]

Where was this 65% of tv shown? At what event? Was it this one? http://www.youtube.com/watc...
Point me to the part where tv starts. Seems to me you bumped your head, lol.

[SniperControl]

@WrAiTh Sp3cTr3

That is the second time you have posted the E3 show, they are not talking about E3, they are talking about the reveal back in May, where MS showed hardly any games and talked about TV more than anything else.

Seems to me you must bumped your head and knocked yourself out to miss that...........lol

[Oner]

@ WrAiTh Sp3cTr3, Here ya go just in case you missed my earlier reply for some reason ~ http://youtu.be/KbWgUO-Rqcw

[Narutone66]

@Oner, he didn't miss the reply, he's just intentionally ignoring it. It's probably called selective blindness, which comes with selective amnesia.

[user7402931]

nobody is saying its cool...

[mark134uk]

it would be a great addon to the ps4 that i would never use

[GreenRanger]

So, TV is awesome now? DAAAYUM!

I..I can't keep up with all of this.

[MrBeatdown]

The funny thing is I don't see anyone really excited for this, or treating this like any kind of big deal.

It's just the usual handful of Xbox fanboys using this as some kind of excuse to treat PS fans as if they are hypocritically jumping for joy over this.

Next we'll see PS fans called hypocrites because they own a TV.

[Ripsta7th]

^^^
Hahaha So now TV matters all of a sudden ?? and ps3 had this years ago? LOl i knew thats what i was going to read

[kenshiro100]

No one ever said TV mattered. Get a grip.

[Thomper]

Tv on ps4.....

<sniggers>

[SmokingMonkey]

lol, i think it's 'snickers'

what's up my snigga!

[GreenRanger]

I'd love a Snickers right about now.

[Thomper]

Mmmm snickers

[deathstriker]

Netflix and Hulu still seem like a WAY better option. I'd rather step on glass than stream anything from MTV, BET, or VH1. Nick has Legend of Korra... and what? All in the Family reruns? No thanks. If they'd made a deal with FX, HBO, Showtime, or AMC then that would've been cool.

[British_Knight]

Microsoft's tv deal will provide every channel a person has through their cable provider. So if you have HBO, Showtime, FX or AMC you'll be able to watch it through XB1 with all of XB1's UI features, which will be better than Directv's, U-Verse and Time Warner's guides.

[devwan]

@Brithsh_Knight "Microsoft's tv deal will provide every channel a person has through their cable provider."

So does plugging your cable box directly into your TV, making use of that often overlooked little black box called the TV remote. Just sayin'

[rainslacker]

Ummm...that's if your cable box supports the X1 control feedback. Up to now I haven't read anything suggesting any kind of compatibility list. I think as of now, Comcast and Viacom are the only ones thought(ie. speculated not confirmed) to be supported at launch. Even that may require a receiver update. How much you want to bet that the cable companies are going to charge an extra fee for those boxes? They already up-charge everything they possibly can. Cable is a complete ripoff given some of the other options out there.

X1 will use the HDMI-CEC or IRBlaster protocal. Not all cable boxes support that. Not even close.

On a side note: Sony's slim PS3's support this standard. It's likely the PS4 will as well. If enough Sony customers fussed about it, they could implement cable box control as well. It wouldn't have the MS cable box UI though. Shocker huh?

[Godmars290]

Yeah, the only real way this would work if it were A la carte. Pick and choose the channels you want.

That, and if they can do it w/o a cable box. Can use it on the PS3.

[WeAreLegion]

But...I love All In The Family.

[LoveOfTheGame]

Already get HBO on my 360. That with NFL for Xbox one hopefully means no more cable and just paying for those. I really hope it can work that way so I can cut my cable bill down.

[SmokingMonkey]

NASNE says hello,

http://www.ign.com/articles...

truth is Sony has always been about cable/TV.

Remember 'it only does everything"

People think M$ is bringing something new to the gamers...but just like eye toy/kinect...they're not.

I'm all for more channels on my PS3/VITA/and soon PS4.

[Ripsta7th]

truth is Sony has always been about cable/TV.
- didnt hear this wen X1 announced all of their TV features

[XisThatKid]

It's true though, just MS is perfecting the sh!t out of it and advertised it as a cable box or add on before a game machine alienating it's original fanbase that was primarily watching the event in the first place. It just looked bad when PS4 was announced it was all about thte games and specs what people wanted to see then left everyone wanting more not showing the console. X1 was revealed and it was the cable features and confirmed bad rumors few games and a formfactor design for an acquired taste. The Sony fans didn't give a sh!t what they said. No matter what it was it was a better collective image than what MS was painting for itself.
point is its great for Sony fans especially since its the only major difference in the systems and its a added bonus not a selling point.

IMO this is also great with the added bonus of having columbia pics and other Sony pics for movies they have some pretty cool thing s to offer on the other media side

[DigitalRaptor]

Not only that, but PS3 owners have had the opportunity to invest in PlayTV for years.

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

But of course when MS does it, it's a fantastic, unmissable addition and an innovation. And of course, Sony sucks on it cause they're apparently "only about the games" with PS4, (as if that's a bad thing). And certain people actually think Sony is not going to have TV features on PS4 that will do the same things. They will, and I could go ahead and bet that it won't be a system-wide focus, when a gaming console's overwhelming focus should be games.

@ Ripsta7th

They announced their TV features to debut their new console for the majority of the conference, and that is why you didn't hear the end of it. It seems I'm going to have to post this again: http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[maniacmayhem]

I think you really have it backwards. MS announced apps they get boo'd on this site, MS announces TV features and they get boo'd on this site.

This site has been over reacting when MS announces a feature(s) other than gaming and then holds Sony up to the sky for praising of the gods for doing the exact same thing MS is.

This is mainly due to a few more than vocal sony fanboys on this site who do nothing but bash MS for making a console that can do more than play games. This majority blows everything out of proportion and when the truth of Sony's agenda is reported it just really makes the more sensible sony fans look bad.

It is the same with paying to play online, and recently the whole RAM issue.

MS had stated time and time again that their reveal would be focues on the features of the Xbox One and that E3 would focus on games only. They delivered on that and big.

[ShwankyShpanky]

I posted this more as a tit-for-tat to the One's TV focus. And it would actually be a one-up if it were part of PS+ and no cable box was needed.

To me, TV functionality still has negligible appeal and no bearing on my console purchase.

[M-M]

"Oh so now that Sony is getting TV features it's okay, but Microsoft having them isn't?"

"Lol Sony fanboys are hypocrites."

"Looks like Sony is following Microsoft's lead on TV features. They have to play a little catch up."

Just the things you will be hearing in the comments section of this article. See, here's the difference. The PS4 is a console that's focused on gaming. The Xbox One is a device that has the ability to play games and is not centered towards gaming.

[Ripsta7th]

Is that why they have more launch titles atm than PS4?
And look at the comments, its the opposite we got PS fans sayin PS3 had this and that Sony had always been about TV

[M-M]

Sony has more launch titles currently and will have more after next week, and no one ever said "that Sony had always been about TV".

[Whitefire]

Sony has more games in development than Microsoft. So why are you singling out Launch Titles?

[DigitalRaptor]

Just end it. Stop with the short-term logic of "launch titles".

Microsoft had to show their hand, and sure they'll have more, but so will Sony. They have more games in development than Microsoft, more games coming to it due to getting their dev kits out much earlier, and due to good publishers relations (you'll see lots of third party, most likely Japanese developers making exclusive games like you have this entire gen for PS3).

Sony will and always has known how to pace themselves, and history is testament to this.

[Ripsta7th]

-M-M you cant be serious because i just read it up there.
Whitefire- How do you know that?? MS has had studios working on Next gen titles since last year

[PSVita]

Sony has 20 first party exclusives while MS has 15

[Whitefire]

@Ripsta7th
Shuhei Yoshida confirmed how many games were in development by their first party studios. 30 in total and 20 in the first year. Which Microsoft has announced 20 total 15 in the first year. Sorry for not mentioning that before.

[nightfallfilms]

Didn't MS have a deal with Viacom with the 360?

[Potato2]

I guess its cool will probably never use it.

[PositiveEmotions]

WOOOOOOOW GREAT FUCKING NEWS MORE REASONS TO GET ME MORE LAZY AS FUCK!!!!!! Lol

But for reals tho this is some epic news for reals i hope sony announces this at gamescom or tgs i also wonder how much it would cost tho :).

Sony is going all out damn :) i love sony!!!! ^_^

[AutoCad]

lol,sorry thats all i have to say.

[Cmk0121]

Irony that Sony brings tv to console it's great MS does it and they don't care about games lol

[SonyPS4]

Only on n4g.com/news

[SpideySpeakz]

The difference is, Sony didn't go around branding it as a #1 feature like MS did.
MS put games on the backburner to attract the Casuals.
Sony focused largely on games in it's first opening reveal. First impressions matter the most.

[Ripsta7th]

Nah, dey stated before the event that it would be separated into 2! one for console hardware and features, the other one would be games

[jonboi24]

People are quick to assume this deal was made just for PS4. How silly this was made for their TVs, laptops, and probably their blu-ray players. For god sakes Sony owns TV shows and movie companies. They are in the entertainment business, this is a smart move to make in preparation for when cable TV slowly dies. Still better than plugging a cable box in a console.

[kingPoS]

I may understand where some of this confusion is coming from, and why some may see it as a copycat move.

Problem is... people forget that Sony is also an entertainment company. The House Cards show from Netflix is on PSN... How? Sony Produced it!

[rainslacker]

They made this deal for their PlayTV service. That service is available on the PS3 and many other devices, both Sony made and not.

It's just IPTV. It's nothing new, and was never a focus on the PS3, just an added feature for those that wanted it.

Seriously, I see more Xbox fan boys calling hypocrisy than any Sony fan actually saying they care about TV on their console. In fact, I haven't seen a single PS fan say they care about TV on their console. At most they say it's a nice feature to have.

Jesus. I've been trying to stay positive about MS this past week. Giving them the benefit of the doubt, trying to see the good in what they're doing. Making reasoned responses, praising where I saw fit, and trying to say they're finally trying to do the right thing. But the Xbox fans make it so hard to take them(the fans) seriously.

[SonyPS4]

Oh so now TV on a game system is amazing. I remember everyone on this site bashing the XOne for even having TV and sports, accusing MS of not caring about the gamers. When Sony does it everyone here actually agrees with it. So fail...

[Sarobi]

I already have cable and barely watch TV as it is now, but I guess this can be useful for those who don't have cable.

[Butters360]

Good to see Sony follow through with their plans on providing a internet TV service when it was announced way back in January. The LONG awaited first steps for PlayStation TV are forming. Negotiate with the big guys and then just throw in everything that Sony Pictures produces and Sony had a clear winner here.

I expect this to eventually be a part of PlayStation Plus.

[WeAreLegion]

Perhaps Sony will give us a REAL video game network. :)

[cell989]

So no cable box required hu?

[ZBlacktt]

I waaaannnnt my MTVVVvvvvv! Awh, how I miss the 1980's.

[Dread]

lol

We will never pay to play online, people who pay for xbox live are idiots....

Playstation 4 reveal:

Paying for online is fine because it is PS Plus...lol

Playstation 4 is for games.... xbox one is just a tv ...
we are gamers and dont care for tv..

and now as always.... sony fans love tv.

double standards is the norm at n4g...sony fans you are amazing, thx for the laughs.

Hypocrites!!!!!

[ShinMaster]

XBL on 360 didn't provide anything like PS Plus.
PS Plus alone was great. People were already subscribing to it. So it's a bigger value than Gold. You guys still don't get it.

The Xbox One is a DVR. Very much like the PSX (PS2 cable TV DVR). Nothing revolutionary.
PS3 also has PlayTV and Nasne.

This will be an internet streaming service (no cable box required) for Sony's laptops and mobile devices, not just PS4.

There are more Xbox fanboys claiming that Sony fans love TV now, than actual Sony fans saying anything at all. Show me how many Sony fans have said they love TV now. Jumping to conclusions makes you guys seem desperate.

[sprinterboy]

Even fanboy wars is going next gen lol, thought this gen was bad enough. Can't we just buy our consoles of choice and be happy. all console manufacturers help push the boundaries of there respective consoles because of competition.

[whitesoxfalife1976]

Fan boys today aren't really fan boys they just ugly lil republicans who don't like the world until they change it then its better

[Deltaguy]

um wow this is actually a huge deal viacom/sony is doing something thats relatively new with cable this can potentially be huge

[Rimeskeem]

So let me get this straight the PS4 and Xbox one are now pretty much the exact same thing.....hm

[OC_MurphysLaw]

TV ...TV....TV.... lol.. couldnt resist. For those that didnt think this was coming you are fooling yourselves. And for those saying its different than MS...it is and it isn't. MS has deals in place now for Xbox 360 with Comcast and Verizon that is basically this. You will need to be a subscriber of said service with Viacom. Xbox One is different in that it will offer IPTV apps like this but also allow the HDMI input to run a cable box offering direct as well.

Anyway, bottom line is this kind of service is going to grow more and more for both Sony and MS...and your "games console" is going to continue to morph into an entertainment box whether you like it or not.

TV...TV...TV... Apps ...Apps...Apps... Yahooo!

[ShwankyShpanky]

"You will need to be a subscriber of said service with Viacom."

No, this is a deal where Sony would be the actual content distributor. With something like Netflix, Netflix is still the distributor, the PS3 is just the "portal." Whether you will have to pay Sony a separate subscription for the Viacom content or whether they'll include it with PS+ would be the question.

I wonder if they'll start doing tiered PS+. (PS++?)

[OC_MurphysLaw]

Interesting.... I can't imagine it won't have some kind of sub fee but regardless this kind of tv/video apps will be the future on these consoles.

[Jeff257]

Most likely it will have a fee associated. But if Sony has enough content providers giving them access then it should allow people the choice of what content they want to watch and only pay for the shows or channels they want. Not one price for all like channels like cable companies do now. Also this isn't just for the Playstation brand. Sony is looking to put this on their TVs and other products as well. This is trying to compete with other companies looking to start TV internet streaming services. It could also push cable companies to change how they provide their services as well. Microsoft on the other hand is relying on agreements with the cable companies for their TV service and a lot of people are getting tired of paying high prices for many channels they don't even want. Cable companies need a kick in the ass to change and TV streaming on the internet can change it as long as people get the chance to pay only for what they want to watch.

[Blackcanary]

How can people forget that Sony had Play TV for the PS3. So to think that Sony would never bring any thing to do with TV for the PS4 is just stupid. And to think Sony has never been about TV before is stupid to since Sony did the hole TV thing before MS with Play TV. Get ur facts right before you speak.

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

Sony never made it a big deal that's why people have forgotten.

To me and you this isn't a surprise as Sony is only furthering what they have been pursuing before, but to others... "woah Sony's doing TV TV TV APPS APPS APPS too? lol"

[Blackcanary]

LOOL so true. Off topic what anime is ur profile picture from?

[AznGaara]

Even before PlayTV they had the PsX. You know, the redesigned Japanese only Ps2 that had TV passthrough and DVR... sounds familiar right? Kind of sounds like one of the next gen consoles... hmmmm

[Blackcanary]

OOOO yea i forgot about that i really wanted that. That PSX Design looks like MS took notices same shape size and everything.

[MRMagoo123]

LOL all the xboners in here trying to pull the "you said tv sucked now you guys think its the best waaaaaa QQ" How many ppl in here are actually excited about it ? i can see maybe 3. I think its also funny how many xbone trolls are in here considering they dont even troll and its the sony fans that are the worst.

You guys are a joke seriously, noone is super excited about it , its just tv, you guys should be more concerned with the shambles that is the Xbone at the moment there has been nothing but bad news for MS for weeks now, they are flip flopping more than magicarp.

[YodaCracker]

Nothing but bad news? Very strange... I must have missed it. I have seen almost nothing but good news for weeks. They removed the restrictive DRM, included a headset in the box, got rid of the mandatory Kinect... Pretty much done everything gamers asked for. Where is all this bad news I'm apparently missing?

[kingPoS]

Good news for cord cutters. I've never had cable before and I'm not about to start. IPTV on the other hand is something I would welcome with open arms. If Sony has built in DVR functionality planed, then it's gameover.

Down with the permanent lease boxes cable companies loan you.

[Belking]

Well look who is behind the TV now. A pay tv service for customers who will be watching on Samsung TVs. Brilliant.

[GraveLord]

Good luck competing with Netflix and Hulu. Seriously, GOOD LUCK.

[kingPoS]

For me It's not competition if another service has something I want.

Amazon for whatever Netflix dosen't have and Hulu for what's still being aired. Question is? What will this new partnership offer that those three don't?

[Gamer187]

I really don't understand how people can't realize the difference between these two situations.
MS yammers about xbox on as the "all - in -one " yet you still need a cable box, and u still have to pay your cable provider. They also needed to go to all these cable companies to be able to allow you to watch TV on your Xbox 1. Guess what I used to do the same thing with TV in 1986 with my VCR I could even change the channels with my VCR remote. I realize they have picture in picture also ( aka snap ) so maybe more like a VCR and a TV from 1995

With Sony's agreement u will not need a cable box or subscription to traditional cable u will however need to pay a subscription for this service I'm assuming to Sony. Doesn't make it better but more inclusive

I'm getting both systems and could really careless about TV nonsense they both have there merit for individual tastes just bring on the games

[Fergusonxplainsall]

This is good news cause my cablebox is a PoS. The HDMI always goes out on it and the picture is 720p grainy crap.

PS3 will put it for 1080p and great sound to boot.

Now I just need it where we pay for channels we want and not crap.Like a local sports channels package with Fox Sports west/Primeticket and ESPN.(Cali)

[PositiveEmotions]

This is by far the best news i have read :) this will make sony succeed even further than ever before.

[Jeff257]

Agreed. They could in fact go head to head against cable companies with this. It isn't just for their Playstation products, but for all their products. integrate it into their TVs, Blu Ray Players, etc. I guess they are truly following through with their plans of fully integrating all aspects of Sony. They started the change when PSN became SEN (Sony Entertainment Network). It has been rather slow to get going but I have liked how I could buy games on the SEN Store through my PC and have it downloaded on my PS3. I am looking forward to their App for mobile phones and doing that on the PS4 as well. Sony has always been about more than just gaming. It is just nice that they don't exclude gaming but see it as a big part of the whole entertainment branding.

[corvusmd]

Uh....welcome Sony, to current gen.

[corvusmd]

Sooooo.....once again PS just gets on par with what XBL is doing currently...and they call it innovation. This is exactly what XBL already does with Xfinity and Verizon Fios. Of course everyone sees the hypocrisy in this whole topic. The "gamer" console follows MS lead again, and NOW it's amazing and innovative...this console war is upsetting....the Systems themselves are awesome, and it SHOULD be an amazing time for gamers...but there are so many jaded fanboys that have no intelligence whatsoever...no wonder the worldwide education level is taking a dump.

[Jeff257]

This isn't just for the Playstation side of Sony. Also Sony had a version of the PS2 out in Japan with a built in DVR that could record and stream people's TV Shows. Their Play TV app has also been doing the same thing in some markets on the PS3. But again this isn't just for their Playstation sytems. They will use this for their TVs, Blu Ray players, and other products they make. This could work out beautifully for Sony as a whole.

Also using Xfinitiy and Verizon Fios or Microsoft's more recent moves with cable companies to integrate their cable boxes with the XBOX One still leaves the cable companies in relative control of who can watch what. Sony is going straight to the content providers and is looking to cut out the middle man aka cable companies. This can really open up choice to the consumer for what they want to pay for based on what they watch.

[AceBlazer13]

ur wastin ur breath on these xbots.

[memots]

cable tv about 80$ a month with a couple of HD package. + Xblive that a whole lot of money.

So there is no comparison to be made this is a whole different thing. Ps3 or 4 does not require you to have a cable subscription and won't need ps+ to use it.

Hell if the content is right i might convince my wife to drop the telus cable box. Oh yeah we also need a watercooler.

[GodGinrai]

Somebody has to foot the bill for that content. trust me they will be charging for this.

[Insane087]

Screw this petty console war crap and think about what this could do... it could breed new tv channels or give all of us region free tv no more waiting streaming or torrenting shows! if there were a montly package with this and something like netflix there wouldn't be any reason to have cable (obvious downside is a reliable connection) will be interesting to see how it does

[PickAShoe]

Is PlayTV for European Playstation consumer only?

[Jeff257]

Europe, NZ, and AUS only. Unfortunately it never came out here in the States.

[urwifeminder]

Well tv on consoles is it cool now or not so confused.

[come_bom]

Such hypocrisy !

[jackanderson1985]

didn't MS already do something similar with Sky here in UK and Ireland... not sure on the stateside as not their so don't know what they have

[90Supra]

We'll see where this goes...

Not getting hype over something that won't be available at launch.....need more details

[_FantasmA_]

LOL dumb xbots. The difference with the PS4 is that they announced it back in February and it was all about games from the beginning. They only now start mentioning TV, 6 months later. As soon as Xgone was revealved it was all TV. Sony always prioritizes games, M$ only does it to distract your guys from its identity crisis.

[Eonjay]

If its cheaper than what I pay for cable, and I don't need a cable box, and I can essentially use wifi and have no wires at all; thats a win for me. I'm sold. I'm so tired of being ripped off for tv! Sony could offer it cheaper because there are no equipment overhead costs. No setup appointments needed. Just log in and there it is

[FullMetalTech]

Dont really care for the TV aspect on the next gen consoles. If Sony includes it in the Plus package then more for me. Im just gonna stick to the games on Ps4 in the mean time.

[Khajiit86]

Its official Sony and Microsoft are going back and forth throwing jabs. Its a great time to be a gamer. Sony is looking for the knockout punch.

[imt558]

Well, Sony has grabbed much larger portion of TV market. But this must be a secondary thing. Gaming at first.

[ATi_Elite]

Pay Internet TV?

Thats like a HUGE OXYMORON! TV on the Internet is FREE FREE FREE!

.....and whoever PAYS to watch TV on the Internet is a FOOL cause all that advertisement on the site pays for the programming and pays the website owner.

Stop being Fools and paying for stuff that you already get for FREE!

So you Idiots think paying $$$$ a month for cable TV/Internet plus paying $$$$$ a month for PSN+ then paying $$$$$ a month for Internet TV is Cool because it's Sony?

You guys may as well become Apple Product Lovers and spend $1000's every year buying new versions of 5 products that all do the SAME EXACT THING!

[GodGinrai]

To be fair people pay to play online. If MS/Sony, turn around and say "hey guys we are offering you TV stuff to you subscribers, but your yearly sub still costs the same as always" it affects us neither way. Because we paid to play online. That is the truth. I hear all this whining about paywalls but I dont know..maybe its because I have always paid for XBLG..like I have ALWAYS paid for sky TV.

I pay for a yearly XBLG sub (£30)

I pay £48 a month for my sky TV/phone/internet package

If im already a gold subscriber..and I already have Sky TV. I am not paying ANY extra. A service I have paid for simply works on another device I pay for in full..for the year. If anything , having sky player/BBc iplayer etc on my Xbox saved me the extra cost of buying a second sky box and the additional fee that would have been added to my sky sub (That would have been about £80 for the additional box and extra tenner a month on top of my monthly sky tv bill). So my xbox actually SAVED me £80 plus an additional £120 per year!

I didnt agree or disagree with you either way. But as somebody that actually pays my own bills I thought I would shed a little light on the real world costs. now if I had to pay for sky TV TWICE...we would be having a different conversation. but in truth I "freely" use my x360 as a second sky box. I bought it to play online...Sky TV was introduced three years AFTER I bought my x360 and four months into my third sub. I did not pay anything extra to use it because , I ALREADY have sky TV.

[RealtorMDandDC]

@ATi_Elite........

Where Can I watch TV on the internet for free? That is not plagued with a bizillon pop-ups and a terrible stream...

FirstRowSports is terrible with all the pop-ups...

Ustream and Justin TV is just as bad and you have to hope the content is popular enough for people in the wild to stream it...

Your argument is epic failure sir...

Now you can use some else On-demand ID and Password like a brother or best friend and watch certain channels, like; CNN, ESPN, MSBC and a few more...... online live for free in a sense...depending on cable provider.

[ATi_Elite]

Learn to use the Internet my friend!

I watch TV on the Internet ALL the TIME (Sports and Real Unfiltered News mostly) and I have good quality and no pop-ups.

You gotta learn to use the Internet and sounds like learn to use your PC too.

There is more Internet out there than the usual sites, also people like to share (Hint Hint) while watching Live TV.

[BG11579]

So Sony is adding the Tv option... Cool...
Yet, I really don't care about it.
First I don't live in the US.
And second I'm buy it for the games!!!!

[Kidmyst]

I don't want to have to use the PS4 to watch TV, Same thing with XB1, give me games and I'll use my cable box for TV.

[Freakizoid215]

first of all, like jeff257 said they probably will let you pay for certain channels you want to watch which isnt a bad thing, but thats alot to handle on one console, hopefully its doesnt kill the PS$ because your watching tv and playing a game (not at the same time obvisously). why would you give up your cablebox which gives you hundereds of stations for 1 to 2 stations. microsoft gives you a chance to use your cable box with your xbox and there isnt alot of strain on the xbox one.

[Jeff257]

The reason why some people want to get rid of cable is because they only really want a few channels but right now have to pay for hundreds they might not even watch. People want a choice. Sony and other companies are trying to give people a way to do this. Also this isn't just for the Playstation systems. Sony plans on bringing this to their TVs and other products as well. Also it really wouldn't be anymore of a strain on the PS4 to stream TV over the Internet. It certainly isn't a strain for the ps3 to stream Netflix or amazon now.

[AceBlazer13]

dont care much for this feature but at least its still gonna be cheaper than xbone

[H0RSE]

All those trying to differentiate X1 and PS4, by trying to justify how streaming TV is different than an HDMI-input to a cablebox, are merely shifting focus from the end result, to the process of getting there. It's like 2 groups of people running a race - group 1 has to jog uphill, while group 2 can take a straight-through path using cars - they both wind up at the same finish line...

The majority of the criticism about X1 and the TV features, was never focused on *how* the feature is utilized or that you "need" a cablebox to utilize them, it was on the concept of watching TV on your console in general. It was criticized as pointless and meaningless - something that's not needed on game console. It was more about people exclaiming "I don't wanna watch TV, I wanna play games!" not "That's a cool idea, but the cablebox as to go!" Now maybe MS focused too deeply on the TV integration aspect of their console a events, but that's neither here nor there.

It's the end result, the ability to watch TV on your console, that was always the focal point of discussion, so regardless if Sony does it "better" or is more "innovative" in their approach, using TV-streaming rather than a direct input through your cablebox, they are merely taking different steps to deliver virtually the same aspect/experience to their playerbase - the ability to watch TV on your console. So in this regard, if it was stupid on Xbox, it's stupid on PS4. If it was cool on xbox, it's cool on PS4.

If this specific feature is something you're interest in, than Sony's does appear to be the better alternative. However, the HDMI-in on the X1 could turn out to an undervalued/overlooked featured, seeing that it isn't just limited to cable boxes, and could potentially be integrated with virtually any device that utilizes this input. Personally, I would opt for the HDMI-in port. I see much more potential usefulness coming from it. I watch a very limited amount of TV, and I game on monitor anyway.

[RealtorMDandDC]

"The agreement is believed to be the first of its kind between a major programmer and any of the technology giants that are trying to disrupt traditional modes of TV delivery"

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013...

This is much better than being dependent on Cable TV services.

People fail to forget Sony is an Entertainment company with a great film and TV portfolio. Sony Pictures produces "Breaking Bad" for example.

This could be major....!!!