Sony has launched a new Live TV service for PlayStation 5 players in the United States, giving users access to more than 100 free, ad-supported channels directly through the console. The service is provided by Sony Pictures Television and begins rolling out on August 31 through the PS5 Media section. Alongside live channels, Sony says the platform will include a growing selection of on-demand movies, TV shows, sports, news, anime and other entertainment.
Live TV on PS5 is built directly into the console experience rather than requiring players to seek out individual streaming applications for every channel. Users can open the Media tab from the PS5 home screen, select the Live TV on PS5 icon and sign in using their PlayStation account. Sony describes the service as free and ad-supported, placing it in the growing free ad-supported streaming television, or FAST, market.
The launch lineup draws content from a wide range of entertainment companies, including Amazon MGM Studios, Crunchyroll, FOX, NBCUniversal, Lionsgate and other providers. Movie channels include MovieSphere by Lionsgate, 50 Cent Action, FilmRise Free Movies, Sony One Horror Hits and Cinevault. The television selection includes programming such as Community, The Shield, Hell’s Kitchen, The Walking Dead, Forensic Files, Unsolved Mysteries, Deal or No Deal USA and Fear Factor.
Anime is also a significant part of the initial lineup. Sony says viewers can find programming including Naruto, Sailor Moon, Hunter x Hunter and Death Note, while Crunchyroll is providing channels including Black Clover and dedicated Box Sets offerings. That makes Live TV another way Sony can distribute anime programming across its wider entertainment ecosystem alongside its existing Crunchyroll business.
Sports coverage includes programming from FOX Sports, NASCAR, NBC Sports Now and UFC, spanning categories such as MMA, football, hockey, motorsports, golf, boxing and soccer. Sony has also listed NFL Channel among the content providers available through the service. The offering should not be confused with a traditional cable subscription carrying every live sporting event, however, as the precise programming available will depend on the individual channels and licensing arrangements.
News and weather programming includes NBC News Now, FOX Weather and LiveNOW from FOX. Sony is also leaning into digital and creator-focused content, with programming connected to Hot Ones, Spotify’s The Ringer, Futcrunch and other creators. Gaming, esports, documentaries, podcasts and specialist channels are included as well, with eCLUTCH listed as an exclusive offering on the service.
The feature represents a notable expansion of the PS5’s role as a general entertainment device. Streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, YouTube and other media applications have long been available on PlayStation consoles, but Live TV places a large collection of free linear channels behind a single built-in destination. That could make the PS5 more useful as a living-room media hub for players who want something closer to traditional channel surfing without adding another paid subscription.
Sony says the lineup will not remain static. Programming will be refreshed regularly, with new channels and additional content planned over time. Availability can also vary depending on local television markets, meaning the exact selection seen by one U.S. user may differ from another.
For now, Live TV on PS5 is limited to players in the United States. Sony has confirmed that it is looking at expanding the service to Canada and says additional regions may also be explored in the future, though no launch dates have been announced outside the U.S. The company has not yet detailed how quickly the channel count will grow beyond the more than 100 services available at launch.
The addition gives Sony a new way to combine PlayStation’s large console audience with advertising-supported television content from Sony Pictures Television and outside partners. With no separate channel-by-channel setup required, the feature is designed to make free streaming content accessible directly from the PS5 Media interface. U.S. players should begin seeing Live TV on PS5 from August 31 as the service becomes available.
