We were expecting Sony to launch something like PlayStation Now, which is cloud-based streaming for games. But Sony seems to have larger ambitions, launching a TV service that will provide live television, video on demand, and even DVR in the cloud. It will offer universal search "across live and on-demand video content" — letting you just keep your content in Sony's cloud and use it across all of your Sony gadgets — in fact, the company says it will work on 70 million Sony devices. That presumably includes the PS4, PS3, Vita, smart TVs, and Android devices. It's not clear at all what Sony means by "live TV" yet — building an all-in-one service like this is fraught with complications with studios, cable companies, and has been a big target for lawsuits.
Sony already offered video on demand service, so it's not a complete shock for it to grow it into more, but this sounds a bit more ambitious than what you'd think. The DVR in the cloud is particularly interesting, and it fills out the Sony Entertainment Network in a big way. Sony's online offering had long been a sore spot for customers, but here at CES it certainly looks like it's beginning to fill out nicely. If Sony can pull off this TV in the cloud service — which begins testing later this year — the company's ecosystem of devices and services may finally cohere into the "One Sony" vision that CEO Kaz Hirai has been pushing for.
Comments
This sounds awesome hopefully the right content is there and the price is reasonable
By Brendu on 01.07.14 12:55pm
Wonder what kind of TV deals they were able to make. So many people have tried and given up.
By WithinReason on 01.07.14 12:57pm
I guess I read this differently, this could just be sony’s version of a Set-top-box/DVR that syncs to the cloud and allows streaming for your home box to any of your other sony devices.
By tkbrdly on 01.07.14 1:00pm
I doubt it considering the reported Viacom deal from a couple months back. you really wouldn’t need that if it is what you are saying(probably).
By Davros on 01.07.14 1:18pm
considering the pain that Aereo has gone through for basically letting you view your tv antenna signal from anywhere, I’d say they might need to make deals with some of the big guys before they promote any sort of remote viewing service.
By tkbrdly on 01.07.14 1:35pm
Yeah, but sony is one of the big guys. If anyone has the clout to strike a deal with the content providers, it’d be sony.
By AlexKibler on 01.08.14 9:17am
I’m not saying they won’t be able to make it work, but this idea could still use a set-top-box and a cable subscription to get content.
By tkbrdly on 01.10.14 2:17pm
Considering that Aereo is now 4 months late launching in Chicago Sony could beat them unless they get their crap together.
By ttringle on 01.08.14 1:38pm
Being half of all moves ever made belong to Sony, they have something to offer that no one else does to the broadcasters. Not sure that will help, but it could.
By Mafoo on 01.07.14 1:17pm
You mean movies? Not to correct you, I was just very confused by what you were saying at first.
By Esquire0399 on 01.07.14 1:30pm
lol, yea.
By Mafoo on 01.07.14 2:40pm
Sony don’t own half of all films ever made.
By James Earley on 01.07.14 3:35pm
They own outright the over 4,000 movies from Columbia TriStar, and they own 20% of MGM. Not to mention the thousands of films Sony Pictures has. If it opens with a lion roaring, Sony owns it (or at least some of it).
They also own smaller studios, like Stage 6, and Destination Films. I read somewhere that if you count up all the films they have some or all ownership of, it comes to around 50% of all the films that ever entered the theater.
By Mafoo on 01.07.14 4:25pm
That is still not HALF, your math is way off. Considering that movies have premiered outside the theater system since the 80’s.
By ttringle on 01.08.14 1:39pm
Well, I mean if you include youtube and lifetime, sure.
Tell me, of all those movies that never made it into the theater, how many do TV Networks care about right to?
By Mafoo on 01.08.14 10:20pm
One of the main reason I bought an X1 was for it’s live TV features.
Now my PS4 will do it too?
Loving 2014 so far!
By aSpicyTaco on 01.07.14 12:57pm
The difference is that the Xbox One will work with the cable companies most likely and the PS4 is probably going to bypass them. How they will react to that and what if any agreements they can build will determine this service’s success. One of the reason Intel’s and others’ service didn’t succeed is because they were trying to go around the cable companies for direct access to the content creators. Time will tell if this strategy will be successful. Ala cart’e for existing cable network’s content hadn’t work because those cable networks would drop those stations for example.
By Drewidian on 01.07.14 1:00pm
seeing how Sony produces most of the content out there, I am sure cable companies will have to deal with it. You forget that Sony is a conglomerate, they have their hands in a lot of things.
By SonOfKratos on 01.07.14 1:56pm
‘Sony produces most of the content out there’.
Seriously? Sony is one of the big content producers, yes, but reality is that they don’t have the clout you’re hoping for. No company has. May be in Japan.
By yieldway17 on 01.07.14 2:07pm
Not even close. Here is a direct link to the shows they have on the air that are produced by them.
Sony’s current TV Lineup
There’s only 30 and of those only 2 I’d watch. We’ll have to see.
By Drewidian on 01.07.14 2:10pm
http://www.imdb.com/company/co0086397/ (everything sony pictures produced in the US), there are also movies but they still have an advantage. I am not saying they control the market or will ever but they can provide a good service.
By SonOfKratos on 01.07.14 2:41pm
They can provide a Service, how good it is has yet to be seen. Unless they provide an all you can eat service like Netflix for a flat fee and are available on Non Sony Devices, it’s D O A, and it hasn’t arrived yet.
By ttringle on 01.08.14 1:43pm
One big advantage Sony has is that they own the actual studios. They’re the first major studio to make a show for Netflix. They make huge shows like Breaking Bad. It’s totally within reason that they would want to make a Netflix competitor and bypass cable/satellite all together. Netflix is looking like the next iTunes which Sony would be stupid to ignore.
I had been wanting a comprehensive deal on PS+ including music, video, and gaming. Get in pieces, or as one all inclusive package for a better deal. This could be the start of that, and if they pull it off I may switch from Google Music and Netflix to PS+/Now.
By Omen_20 on 01.07.14 9:53pm
I don’t know how they are going to do this without the cable and satellite companies or ISP network’s support, but it will be interesting to see how this shapes up. Pricing and content will be the determining success of this service.
By Drewidian on 01.07.14 12:57pm
If this is a la carte live TV content, color me VERY intrigued. That’s about the only thing that could dislodge me from FIOS at this point.
By Jakejd on 01.07.14 12:57pm