Sony has announced a cloud-based television streaming service, PlayStation Vue, for PlayStation consoles and other devices.

Announced via press release, PlayStation Vue will launch with a package of 75 channels per market, which includes local broadcast networks and cable channels. On-demand content will also be made available, with the previous three days of programming available at all times and an ability for viewers to save episodes of shows to the cloud for up to 28 days.

In terms of channels, Sony has made deals to secure content from networks like CBS, MTV, Comedy Central, Fox, NBC as well as their subsidiaries. Currently, there no deals with ABC or Disney. You can see a full list here:

  • 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.

Users will be able to navigate the service to search and filter live and on-demand programming based on preferences of length, program type, popularity, genre and other parameters.

“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,” stated Andrew House, president and group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, in the press release. “PlayStation Vue brings the best of live TV and a robust catalog of the latest content, always keeping you connected to what’s popular, new and trending. 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.”

There is currently no information available for the service’s pricing model. However, Sony promises that there will be no hidden fees and that what you see is what you pay for.

The PlayStation Vue service will launch for PS4 and PS3 console users in an invite-only beta this month first in New York, then Chicago and then Philadelphia and Los Angeles. In order to qualify for an invite, users need to be subscribed to PlayStation Plus. The service will also become available on iPad shortly after and then later on Sony and non-Sony devices.

PlayStation Vue is scheduled to launch commercially during the first quarter of 2015. 

Source: Sony Press Release