Surprise! Free Live TV Is Coming To PlayStation 5

PlayStation is getting in on the streaming wars with a new free live TV option for PS5 owners. Players will be able to choose from a bunch of different channels offering movies, anime, and network TV like Hell’s Kitchen with ads.

Live TV on PS5 will only be available in the U.S. to start, with the “free ad-supported experience from Sony Pictures Television” appearing in the console’s media tab and requiring a PlayStation account sign-in. Sony says the service will evolve over time, but for now, here’s what it will include:

• Movies – Free movies across action, horror, sci-fi and more, with channels including MovieSphere by Lionsgate, 50 Cent Action, FilmRise Free Movies, Sony One Horror Hits and Cinevault.
• TV Shows – Fan-favorite programming including Community, The Shield, Hell’s Kitchen, The Walking Dead, Forensic Files, Unsolved Mysteries, Deal or No Deal USA and Fear Factor, plus Ice Road Truckers from A+E’s HISTORY.
• Anime – Anime favorites including Naruto, Sailor Moon, Hunter x Hunter, Death Note and more, including exclusive channels Black Clover and Box Sets channels from Crunchyroll.
• Sports – Sports programming from FOX Sports, NASCAR, NBC Sports Now, UFC and more spanning MMA, football, hockey, motorsports, golf, boxing and soccer
• News & Weather – National, local and international coverage including NBC News Now, Fox Weather, and LiveNOW from FOX
• Creator & Specialty Programming – Programming featuring Hot Ones, Spotify’s The Ringer, Futcrunch, Idle Mode, comedy, action sports, gaming, esports and other creator-led content.
• Additional Programming – Discover gaming and esports, creator-led entertainment, documentaries, podcasts and other specialty programming, including eCLUTCH (exclusive) and more.

Will this end up being a workable alternative for people who have cut the cable cord but don’t want to pay the ever-increasing price tag of live TV options on Hulu or YouTube? Or is Sony several years late to fighting the last war? In the age of endless vertical video scrolling on social media apps, sitting down to watch scheduled episodes of Naruto or a syndicated network show almost feels quaint.

At the same time, I’m personally getting fed up with trying to coble together a bunch of different pricey subscriptions in order to have access to live news, the latest seasons of my favorite TV shows, and sports. It’s a mess, and it’s way more than the $50 I used to pay for cable. So who else is going to join me in watching Ice Road Truckers on PS5 tonight?

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