Sony’s PlayStation Vue, the internet-based provider of cable and broadcast-based live TV and on-demand channels, is now available on Roku devices, the manufacturer of set-top streaming media adapters and integrated smart TVs revealed Tuesday.
PlayStation Vue is accessible by owners of the Roku Streaming Stick, Roku Streaming players and Roku TVs. In addition, PlayStation Vue will be coming to Android smartphones and tablets via a streaming app, beginning next week, Sony said.
With the addition, Roku further builds out its already robust assortment (more than 3,000 apps are available and growing) of entertainment streaming apps and games. The PlayStation Vue service joins Dish’s rival Sling TV service, which has been on Roku for more than a year.
Read more on PlayStation Vue from Roku after the jump:
Meanwhile, PlayStation Vue’s expansion to the Roku platform gives the service access to a broader consumer audience, as users can now access the service more easily without a PlayStation system.
In addition to Roku devices, PlayStation Vue is now available via: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick. Users with an existing PlayStation Vue subscription can also access the service on iPads and iPhones through the PlayStation Vue mobile app, with support for Android coming next week. Google Chromecast is also supported via compatible devices with the PlayStation Vue mobile app.
Users need only one PlayStation Vue subscription to access the service from a wide variety of devices.
Currently, the PlayStation Vue service offers more than 100 top live sports, movie and TV channels, with such unique features as simultaneous streaming and cloud-based DVR recording. The cloud DVR, allows users to record hundreds of shows at once, with thousands of hours of storage. Sony said the storage capacity is 10 times greater than any DVR in the market today.
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Users will require a Roku device or other supporting device, a broadband connection and a monthly subscription to one of the PlayStation Vue programming tiers. No additional fees are assessed for set-top box fees, of long-term contracts. PlayStation Vue offers the choice of one of three multi-channel plans starting at $29.99 per month.
All plans include a seven-day free trial for first time subscribers and include the following:
- Access: 55+ channels, including live cable TV, movies and sports channels for $29.99 per month ($39.99 in cities with major live local broadcast stations).
- Core: 70+ channels, including all the channels from Access with the addition of live national and regional sports networks for $34.99 per month ($44.99 in cities with major live local broadcast stations).
- Elite: 100+ channels, featuring all the channels from Core with the addition of top movie and entertainment channels for $44.99 per month ($54.99 in cities with major live local broadcast stations).
Current network programmers include AMC Networks, CBS, Discovery Communications, Disney/ABC Television Group, ESPN, Fox, NBCUniversal, Scripps Networks Interactive, Turner Broadcasting and Viacom. Standalone network channels, including Showtime and Fox Soccer Plus, are also available to users as a la carte offerings.
In related news, Roku said that is Roku Search feature has now been expanded to search for items of interest across more than 50 streaming channels, including, for the first time ever, news channels:
ABC, ABC News, Acorn TV, Amazon Video, BIGSTAR, Bloomberg TV, CBS All Access, CBS News, CinemaNow, Comedy Central, CONtv, Crackle, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD,Docurama, Dove Channel, DramaFever, Encore Play, FandangoNOW, Fandor, Fox Business Network, Fox News Channel, FOX NOW, Freeform, FXNOW, Google Play, HBO GO, Hulu, Indieflix, Met Opera on Demand, MTV, NAT GEO TV, NBC News, Netflix, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Premiere, Popcornflix, Pop Flix Classic Movies, Shout Factory TV, SHOWTIME, Smithsonian Channel, SnagFilms Watch Free Movies, Starz Play, Time Warner Cable, Tribeca Shortlist, Tubi TV, VH1, Viewster, VUDU, WATCH Cooking Channel,WATCH DIY Network, Watch Food Network, Watch HGTV and Watch Travel Channel.
Roku users will now have several new ways to discover news content on the Roku platform using the “News” menu that appears on the Roku home screen. Navigating down to this option and then across will showcase the top news headlines from AOL across many different categories, including entertainment, tech, sports, business and lifestyle.
A second option is to visit and stream a news channel directly. There are more than 200 news and weather streaming channels in the Roku Channel Store.
A new third option is to use the Roku Search feature, that will pull up relevant news results from several news outlets including ABC News, CBS News, Fox Business, Fox News, and NBC News.
By Greg Tarr
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