Sony launches free ad-supported Live TV app on PS5 in the US
Sony Pictures Television has launched Live TV on PS5 in the United States, offering more than 100 live channels alongside on-demand films and shows.
Your PS5 is about to become even more useful as a box that plays things you did not buy. Sony Pictures Television has launched Live TV on PS5 in the United States, bringing more than 100 free, ad-supported live channels and on-demand programming to the console.
What’s actually going on: The Live TV app is available through the PS5 Media section. Sony says the launch line-up includes films, television, anime, sports and news, with programming from Amazon MGM Studios, Crunchyroll, FOX, NBCUniversal, NFL Channel and UFC.
The service is free to use but supported by advertising. Sony has launched it in the US only, and says it is looking to expand to Canada while exploring additional regions. Channel availability and programming can vary by local market and may change.
This is not a replacement for every streaming subscription or a universal cable-cutting miracle. It is closer to a free channel bundle built into the console, mixing live programming with on-demand viewing. Sony has not confirmed a UK or wider European launch date.
Why you should care: consoles increasingly want to be the centre of the living room, not merely the device plugged into the television when somebody wants to play. A free channel service gives the PS5 another reason to stay on the input screen, although the trade-off is advertising and regional restrictions.
Our opinion
Live TV on PS5 is a sensible extra rather than a reason to buy a console. US players get a useful free bundle, particularly if they enjoy sports, news or background television. Everyone else gets to wait and see whether Sony considers the rest of the world worth the licensing paperwork.