Streaming Sports On Playstation Vue
PlayStation Vue is a good streaming service for watching national sports broadcasts and commentary. It also offers excellent DVR features, which can be helpful for capturing games that run at inconvenient times. I also like that it includes lots of channels dedicated to specific sports leagues, such as MLB Network, NBA TV, and NFL Network. On the other hand, I don’t appreciate how some regional FOX and NBC coverage is relegated to the $10-per-month Sports Pack, an add-on that is not even available for the base package. PlayStation Vue is a good option for football fans, but you should check out other entries in our roundup of the best NFL streaming services, too.
FuboTV is another excellent sports streaming service, despite the fact that it does not bundle ESPN in any packages, thanks to its local, national, and international sports coverage. It also impresses with features that let you rewatch games from the past few days and the ability to restart live streams from the beginning of the broadcast . YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV are comparable to PlayStation Vue both in terms of channel offerings and DVR capabilities, but their single-tier plans are slightly cheaper than PlayStation Vue’s sports-focused tier.
Does Playstation Vue Offer Dolby Digital 51 Surround Sound
PlayStation Vue does not include Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound as part of the service.
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Playstation Vue Is Dead These Are The Best Alternatives
What now? Have no fear, we’ve got the scoop on all the streaming services for Vue-gitives.
Are you a PlayStation Vue subscriber? Sorry to break it to you: Not anymore, you’re not. After trying to find a buyer for the streaming-TV service, Sony abruptly announced plans to shutter Vue at the end of January 2020. That means you’ve got just about three months to decide on a replacement.
Thankfully, there are plenty of options, as outlined in our roundup of the best live TV streaming services for cord-cutters. Here’s the short version: If you were happy with Vue, you’ll probably be equally happy with YouTube TV, which has the same $50 base price and even more top channels. Read CNET’s YouTube TV review.
However, if you chose Vue specifically for its football options, you may be disappointed: YouTube TV lacks the NFL Network.
Of course, maybe this is a good time to reevaluate your entire streaming situation. Were you actually watching all the channels Vue had available? And do you ever watch local stations? If not, there are some cheaper options worth considering:
AT& T Watch TV: For just $15 per month, you get 37 live streaming channels — but no DVR and only one simultaneous stream. Read CNET’s AT& T Watch TV review.
What do you think? Where will you hang your streaming-TV hat once Vue closes its digital doors?
Note that CBS, the owner of CNET, is a paid partner for any of these services that stream CBS-owned stations.
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Sony To Shut Down Playstation Vue A Cable Alternative
Vue was started in early 2015 as a cheaper version of cable TV. It drew a slew of copycats, but customer growth slowed for many of these services as prices rose.
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Sony is shutting down its online-cable alternative, PlayStation Vue, citing the high cost of content and the difficulty of reaching deals with networks.
It did not release how many customers Vue had, but it was seen as a small player. Vue will shut down in January.
Sony started Vue in early 2015 as a cheaper version of cable TV delivered via the internet. It was a test case for a TV alternative, alongside Dishs Sling TV and, later, a slew of copycats from DirecTV, Google, Hulu and others.
These services were initially heralded as the future of TV as more cable customers began cutting the cord. They offered popular TV networks for less than the cost of a cable package. Signing up and canceling were easy, with no need for installation.
But customer growth has slowed and even dropped for many of these services as prices rose and they added more channels, coming closer to their traditional TV counterparts. AT& Ts version, AT& T TV Now, formerly known as DirecTV Now, has dropped customers for four straight quarters, losing more than 700,000 subscribers as it rolled off deep discounts.
How Is This Different From Cable Or Satellite Tv
PlayStation Vue could be cheaper than traditional TV service, but it depends on your needs and what kind of bundles your local TV service provider offers.
The main advantage PlayStation Vue offers is the technology, which lets you bookmark favorite TV channels, get recommendations on shows you might like, save shows to a cloud DVR for access across different devices, and create separate profiles for each family member. Most set-top boxes havent yet reached this level of sophistication.
Theres also something to be said for Sonys transparent billing, which doesnt involve any installation fees, hidden fees, equipment rental costs, contracts, or annual pleas to customer service for lower rates.
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Whats Good About Playstation Vue
- A full slate of channels just like cable or satellite TV
- A cloud DVR that works just like what youre used to: pause, record and rewind live TV and fast-forward through commercials on shows youve recorded
- Works on a variety of streaming devices in addition to Playstation: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, Google Chromecast and more
- Streaming on up to five devices at once and
- Fairlawn residents will find costs are less than what they are in larger cities.
Playstation Vue Channel Packages
Channel packages start at $44.99 per month for the PlayStation Vue Access plane, which includes 45-plus channels ranging from ESPN to Food Network. Viewers looking for more can add an extra 15 channels for $5 with the $49.99 60+ channel PS Vue Core package. This adds channels like ESPNU and the NFL Network, along with the criminally underrated Turner Classic Movies. Youll also get a full suite of local channels on PlayStation Vue.)
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Viewers who want even more options should consider the $59.99-per-month PS Vue Elite level, a 90-plus channel package that brings BBC World News, Epix, and NBA TV to the party. The final-tier, $79.99-per-month PS Vue Ultra comes with HBO and Showtime, and its perfect for movie lovers. Outside of HBO and Showtime, Ultra is the same as the Elite package. But getting HBO and Showtime for just $20? Thats a steal.
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Playstation Vue Channels And Packages
Sony used to have different types of channel packages available, including those with local channels and those without, as well as cheaper “slim” bundles for those who don’t need several dozen channels to flip through. That’s no longer the case.
At the end of its life, PlayStation Vue just had four packages: Access, Core, Elite, and Ultra. As the channel selection grew, so too did the monthly subscription feeso you got what you paid for, whether that’s a little or a lot. The service also had a few optional add-on channels and bundles, although it’s not nearly as extensive as what Sling TV currently offers.
Here’s what you got with each package:
Access package : ABC, AMC, Animal Planet, BBC America, Bravo, Cartoon Network, CBS, Cheddar Business, CNBC, CNN, COZI TV, Destination America, Discovery, Discovery Family, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, E!, ESPN, ESPN2, Food Network, FOX, Fox Business, Fox News Channel, FREEFORM, FS1, FS2, FX, FXX, HGTV, HLN, Investigation Discovery, MSNBC, National Geographic, NBC, NBCSN, OWN, oxygen, SCI, Start TV, Syfy, TBS, TLC, TNT, Travel Channel, truTV, USA, and WE.
Core package : Everything from the Access package plus CBS Sports Network, Comet, Cooking Channel, DIY Network, ESPN College Extra, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, Golf Channel, Hallmark Channel, IFC, MLB Network, National Geographic Wild, NBC TV, NFL Network, Olympic Channel, POP, SEC Network, Smithsonian Channel, SundanceTV, Tastemade, Turner Classic Movies.
Playstation Vue To Add Espn Abc Disney Channels To Streaming Tv Lineup
Sony’s PlayStation-based subscription service, available in seven US cities, will soon include ESPN, Disney and ABC local channels, complete with cloud DVR controls, on-demand offerings and simultaneous streaming.
The most feature-rich Internet TV provider just filled the biggest hole in its channel lineup.
Sony’s PlayStation Vue subscription service, which competes against cable TV with live and on-demand TV streamed over the Internet, will soon include a variety of Disney-owned channels like ESPN, The Disney Channel and the local ABC affiliate.
The new channels, 18 in all, represent the largest missing link in Vue’s offerings compared to traditional cable and satellite. Sony’s base package already offers most other major channels, including local NBC, Fox and CBS affiliates and cable channels like Comedy Central, Bravo, Fox News and FX.
Vue is currently available in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, San Francisco and Miami. Starting at $50 per month, it’s significantly more expensive than direct competitor Sling TV, which starts at $20 per month and is available nationwide.
How the new channels will affect Vue’s pricing structure, and when they’ll be available, was not announced.
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Ps Vue’s Web Interface
PS Vue’s web interface uses dark colors with splashes of bright blue. It looks clean and modern, but it’s not as intuitive as that of YouTube TV and stutters occasionally when loading some of the information-heavy modules. The top-level navigation menu includes Home, My DVR, Channels, Live TV, and Guide. Annoyingly, the interface kept showing alerts right below the top menu, even after I dismissed them several times. On the right-hand side of the screen, you get a search tool and a button for account preferences. In testing, the search tool worked as expected, returning relevant results for queries of TV shows, movies, and individual channels. However, it’s not nearly as sophisticated as YouTube TV’s search functionality, which lets you concatenate search terms, such as a genre and initial airdate, for example.
The account preferences section is pretty robust. You can add profiles for different users, which helps PS Vue make better recommendations for individuals. Additionally, you can change Closed Captioning settings, such as the text style, size, and color, along with the background color. There’s even a setting for enabling the interface to display Sports Scores and a helpful FAQ section in plain text. If you hit the Manage Subscription button, you get access to billing and plan settings.
What Other Devices Does Playstation Vue Support
Once youve signed up, you can also access the service on Android and iOS mobile devices and on Amazon Fire HD6 tablets and above. Some channels, however, are not available for mobile viewing, and some individual shows might not be available either.
Google Cast-enabled TV devices such as Chromecast are also supported through the iOS and Android apps, and thankfully, the usual restrictions on mobile viewing do not apply.
At the moment, theres no word on support for other platforms, such as the Xbox or apps for Windows or MacOS.
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Playstation Vue Focuses On Your Shows
PlayStation Vue and Sling TV are the two most prominent alternative live TV services in the US today, competing directly against traditional cable and satellite TV providers. Instead of requiring a cable box, they stream over your Internet connection to a compatible device. Neither requires a contract, allowing you to cancel and restart your service at any time.
Vue is currently compatible with PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 game consoles as well as Apple iPads and iPhones through the PlayStation Vue mobile app. There’s no app for Apple TV, and you can’t use AirPlay to send video to your TV, so currently the only way to watch Vue on the big screen is with a PlayStation console.
Compared with traditional cable/Internet bundles it offers fewer channels, in particular regional sports, and won’t necessarily save you much money. It does have similar features though, with full DVR functions including pause, rewind and fast-forward on all channels, the ability to “record” shows to watch later , and an innovative guide that focuses more on individual shows than channels. It also allows you to watch on more than one device at the same time.
The Best Playstation Vue Prices And Packages
ByMackenzie Frazierlast updated 06 February 2020
Update: Starting on January 30, 2020, PlayStation Vue will no longer be available. If you’re interested in other cable alternatives you can learn more about Sling TV, YouTube TV and Hulu.
PlayStation Vue is a relatively new streaming service from Sony that allows you to stream live TV, movies, and sports without having a cable subscription. The streaming service has been slowly gaining popularity, so we’ve put together a list of the best PlayStation Vue prices and packages that are currently being offered.
We’ve also answered some common questions about PlayStation Vue, so you know exactly what you’re getting with this streaming service from Sony, and you can also read our in-depth review on the PlayStation Vue.
We’ll be updating this page regularly with any new deals so you’ll always be up-to-date with the latest pricing and offers.
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What To Watch On Playstation Vue
PlayStation Vue provides viewers with a wide range of entertainment choices, including on-demand TV shows, movies and sports, as well as live TV streaming. The options available depend on the package purchased with the Ultra package providing nearly twice as many channels as the basic Access plan.
All PlayStation Vue subscribers get access to standard news options like ABC, FOX and MSNBC. Thats in addition to entertainment channels like Cartoon Network, Discovery, Food Channel and Travel Channel, as well as sports options on ESPN and ESPN2.
Playstation Vue Plans And Pricing
PlayStation Vue has four plans from which you’ll choose. They are:
- Access : This is the most basic package you can get with PlayStation Vue. You get 45 channels, from AMC to CNN and Fox News, to ESPN and Disney, and more.
- Core : This package adds in sports channels like MLB Network, NBA TV, NFL Network, and regional sports. You’ll also get the Cooking Channel and additional movie channels.
- Elite : This’ll get you BBC World News and a bunch of movie channels that you never knew existed.
- Ultra : This is everything in the Elite package, but with HBO and Showtime added in. And that’s not a bad deal at $10 each per month, which both of them costing more if you were to get them separately. You’ll also have access to the Showtime Anytime app, And HBO Now apps.
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What Was So Great About Playstation Vue Anyway
On its surface, PlayStation Vue was pretty similar to other cable replacement services. You paid a monthly fee, no contract required, in exchange for a bunch of basic cable channels streamed over the Internet. It had DVR features, on-demand content, a comprehensive channel guide and so forth. You know the drill.
What you might not know, though, is just how unusual these features were when PS Vue debuted. Remember: When PlayStation Vue launched in March 2015, its only major competitor was Sling TV. As the two services evolved, PS Vue was always the first to get hot new features, leaving Sling to play catch-up. Here are a few things that PlayStation Vue introduced:
But, as tech history has demonstrated again and again, innovative features alone won’t save a doomed product. PlayStation Vue also suffered setbacks right from the get-go, and Sony never addressed them sufficiently.
Features And User Interface
Perhaps the most enticing feature about PlayStation Vue is the number of streams that can be watched at the same time. Vue users are granted a total of five simultaneous streams and up to 10 different user profiles per account, which outpaces the allowances from its competitors. This also makes Vue a great choice for larger families, as several people can stream to their device of choice without interfering with or barring another member of the family. Only two of the five simultaneous streams can be viewed away from home. The remaining three simultaneous streams must be viewed within the same home.
Vues cloud DVR feature is also an appealing bonus for those interested in recording live TV to watch later . Once recorded, your content will be stored for up to 28 days. There is some confusion as to the exact capacity of the DVR feature. In the past, Sony has said you can record up to 500 episodes, though there was no mention of how long it considered an episode to be 30 minutes? 60 minutes? More? Three-day replay and on-demand content are also available for a number of channels on the service, though Sony places some restrictions on certain DVR content. For instance, you cannot record HBO, ESPN Classic, Showtime, or Cinemax at all, and Fox, FX, and FXX will not let you fast-forward their DVRd shows. Best of all, the DVR feature is free, unlike Sling TVs.
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