Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Audio / Video
  3. News

Sony’s PlayStation Vue live TV streaming service shuts down in January

By

PlayStation Vue, Sony’s internet-based live TV streaming service, is about to be no more. According to a statement from Sony, PlayStation Vue will shut down on January 30, 2020, ending an almost four-year run.

Sony says its decision to end PlayStation Vue is based on “expensive content and network deals,” a marketplace that’s been slow to adapt to the rise of live TV streaming, and a desire to focus more on Sony’s “core gaming business.” PlayStation Vue’s closure comes as Sony is prepping for the release of the PlayStation 5, which is expected to arrive in time for the 2020 holiday season.

Recommended Videos

Reportedly, Vue has been rocky for a while. Last July, Sony increased prices on all Vue packages by $5 to combat rising content fees, making the already pricey service even more expensive. Just a few days ago, news arrived that Sony wanted to sell its PlayStation Vue division, claiming that the service was losing money. It seems that Sony’s seven-figure asking price was too high, however, as Vue will now close entirely.

PlayStation Vue’s closure leaves the PlayStation 4 without any live TV streaming services, although that could change. Because of Vue, Sony refused to let competitors like Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV establish apps on the console.

Sony notes that PlayStation 4 owners can still watch TV and movies through the PlayStation Store, which offers a number of programs for rent and purchase, and traditional streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. However, without Vue to worry about, it seems likely that Sony will open the doors to third-party TV services in the near future.

PlayStation Vue was one of the most expensive live TV streaming services on the market, with subscription packages ranging from $50 to $85 in price. However, it was also one of the most full-featured. Vue was the only service to support fast-forwarding through commercials on every network, offered the big four networks (FOX, ABC, NBC, and CBS) to a majority of subscribers, and let customers run five simultaneous streams at no extra cost.  It wasn’t just limited to PlayStation 4 consoles, either. PlayStation Vue ran on Fire TV devices, Roku boxes, and more.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Chris Gates
Chris Gates
Contributor
Christopher Gates lives in Los Angeles, CA and writes about movies, TV, video games, and other pop culture curiosities. In…
You can play this 2018 open-world hit for free if you have PlayStation Plus
Arthur Morgan walks into a burning house in Red Dead Redemption 2.

If you somehow haven't played the 2018 open-world classic Red Dead Redemption 2 yet and you have a PlayStation Plus subscription, we have good news. PlayStation announced in a blog post Wednesday that the game will be available for free for the Plus program's Extra and Premium tiers.

Subscribers can play this massive hit, along with 12 other games, starting on May 21.  Users will also get access to Red Dead Online, the game's multiplayer experience that allows players to create their own character and mess around inside the world as they see fit -- from forming a group of outlaws to rob people on the road to hunting animals.

Read more
Helldivers 2 PC woes prove that PlayStation needs an online overhaul
The PlayStation Store on the Sony InZone M9.

It's been a rough few days for Sony. After a plan to implement mandatory PlayStation Network accounts for Helldivers 2 players on PC went haywire, one would imagine that the company is having a lot of talks behind closed doors right now. If there's one thing I hope Sony takes away from everything, it's that PlayStation's online services need a 2.0 revamp.

It all kicked off when Sony announced that all Helldivers 2 players on PC would be required to have a PSN account to play and would no longer be optional. The backlash was instant, but not for unfounded reasons. Many players expressed concern about living in a country where they couldn't even create a PSN account, leading to the eventual backpedaling of the decision.

Read more
If you’re not using PlayStation Stars, you’re missing out
Three phone screens with the PlayStation Stars app.

I wouldn't blame you if you forgot PlayStation Stars existed. In fact, I would guess the majority of people out there have no idea what that even is, but PlayStation's reward program deserves more attention than it's getting.

Launched in the summer of 2022, PlayStation Stars is a program meant to reward players for engaging with the PlayStation ecosystem. You can take on challenges to earn digital collectibles and, more importantly, coins that can be redeemed for games, store credit, and some premium in-game currencies.

Read more