Sony working on PlayStation-based online TV service

[mmadhankumar]

Sony will begin testing a new television service that combines traditional viewing with on-demand content through its PlayStation gaming system, a cloud-based service could possibly change long-established cable and media industry relationships.

Sony executives described the as-yet unnamed service as a blend of live cable, on-demand and DVR content. Speaking at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, they promised an intuitive design for searching for content -- addressing a common complaint of cable customers.

Sony's embryonic effort builds on similar moves by Microsoft and Intel. Viewers could buy viewing packages through Sony, much as customers now do through cable operators like Comcast. As envisioned, the service would allow subscribers to play games, call up TV shows and movies, and tune into broadcast channels via a single box.

It was unclear how advanced Sony's project was. It did not announce any deals with media companies, but said details will be forthcoming and the service will be tested and unveiled this year.

Sony CEO Kaz Hirai told reporters that the company had struck up "a good dialogue" with content holders, or media companies. But he stopped short of describing the impact on the cable industry.

Hirai denied that Sony's service would compete with pay TV companies such as Comcast or DirecTV even though it plans to sell consumers a package of live television channels, which they currently get through cable providers.

"We're offering live TV and we're combining it with other video services... We don't set out to do this and say we're going to compete with cable companies," he told reporters. "Whether you believe it's competitive or not, that's your question."

Sony, which already owns a major film and entertainment production business, says it is trying to create a more personal service for consumers accustomed to getting much of their TV content through cable providers.


More: Sony working on PlayStation-based online TV service - The Times of India