PlayStation 5 owners in the United States can now access a new free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) service directly through their consoles. This feature, dubbed "Live TV on PS5," provides access to over 100 live channels as well as on-demand movies and television shows.
To begin watching, users need to navigate to the Media tab on their PS5, select the "Live TV on PS5" icon, and then sign in with their PlayStation account. The service is powered by Sony Pictures Television and includes a diverse range of content spanning genres such as news, sports, movies, TV shows, and anime.
Content highlights include movies from channels like MovieSphere, 50 Cent Action, FilmRise Free Movies, Sony One Horror Hits, and Cinevault. Popular TV series such as The Walking Dead, Community, Unsolved Mysteries, and Hell's Kitchen are also available. For anime enthusiasts, the service offers Naruto, Sailor Moon, Death Note, and dedicated Crunchyroll channels. Sports programming includes content from Fox Sports, Nascar, NBC Sports Now, and UFC. Additionally, users can find news and weather channels, alongside creator-focused content from platforms like Hot Ones and The Ringer.
This move by Sony into the FAST market, which is experiencing growing popularity with established players like Roku, Tubi, and Pluto, sees the company leveraging its own content library. While dedicated apps for existing FAST services were already available on PS5, "Live TV on PS5" marks Sony's direct entry into offering its own FAST channels. Microsoft also offers access to FAST channel apps like Tubi and Pluto on its Xbox consoles.
Sony has indicated that "Live TV on PS5" will be regularly updated with new channels and content. The company also has plans to expand the service to Canada and other international regions in the future. This initiative follows Sony's previous venture into live TV with the paid service PlayStation Vue, which was discontinued in 2020 due to operational costs.