Sony’s new PS5 Live TV app brings 100+ free channels, movies and more

Sony is giving PS5 owners another way to watch entertainment without paying for a subscription, although there's a catch: they'll have to sit through advertisements. The company has announced Live TV on PS5, a new free, ad-supported streaming app from Sony Pictures Television. The service will offer more than 100 live TV channels, alongside a library of movies and TV shows that users can access without a subscription.

The lineup will cover a broad range of content, including movies, television, anime, sports, news, creator-led programming and more. Sony also says the selection will be refreshed regularly, with new programming and channels planned over time. The move gives Sony another way to connect its various entertainment businesses with its enormous PlayStation audience. With the PS5 now installed in more than 90 million homes, the company has a huge potential audience for an advertising-supported streaming service.

Sony previously removed movies and TV shows from the PlayStation Store in 2021, instead shifting its focus toward Sony Pictures Core, an on-demand storefront and subscription service built around Sony's own content. Live TV on PS5 takes a different approach by offering free access funded through advertising.

There's an obvious business advantage here. Rather than sending PS5 owners elsewhere for free ad-supported television, Sony can keep their viewing time within the PlayStation ecosystem while creating another source of revenue from its existing user base. Only available in the U.S. initially, the service will also expand beyond its initial availability, with Sony confirming plans to bring Live TV on PS5 to Canada and other regions.

Still, the timing is somewhat awkward. Sony is already dealing with criticism over its changing approach to physical game discs, while European customers were recently told that hundreds of movies they had purchased through the PlayStation Store would become inaccessible after a licensing agreement expired.

For Sony, however, the appeal is clear. As console sales become increasingly difficult to grow indefinitely, services such as Live TV provide another opportunity to generate revenue from the massive PS5 audience. And unlike a traditional subscription service, the lack of an upfront cost could make the offering an easy sell to users who simply want something free to watch. Unfortunately, the app is only available in the U.S., although Sony plans to expand it to Canada and other countries in the future.

As always, for the latest news on PlayStation consoles, PS6 rumors, hardware pricing, and developments across the gaming industry, be sure to follow our dedicated hardware coverage.