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PlayStation Vue was introduced as a viable replacement for traditional cable, offering a robust package of channels, including bundles designed for sports, news, entertainment and families.
But it won’t be around much longer: PlayStation’s owners recently announced a shutdown of services as of January 30, 2020.
| Service type | On-demand streaming |
|---|---|
| Free trial | No |
| Pricing starts at | $49.99 |
| Lock-in contract | No |
In October 2019, Sony revealed it would be ending PlayStation Vue after the last 4 years of service in order to focus on their core gaming business. You will still be able to access TV and movie content through the PlayStation Store using your PS4.
For more information on how you can stream TV and movies, check out our internet TV page.
PlayStation Vue allows you to create up a primary account and add up to 9 profiles to personalize your top channels with your friends or family. Other features include:
Stream on more than your PlayStation. Watch shows, sports and more from your computer, your mobile device, tablet or PlayStation.
The basic service comes with all the networks, plus plenty of family-friendly channels, like Disney and Animal Planet. There’s also a few news options, like CNN, Fox News, and Fox Business.
You can upgrade your package to include ESPN and other sports channels.
Record unlimited episodes from up to 500 shows. The DVR is easy and intuitive to use too.
PlayStation Vue is compatible with select PlayStation consoles, smart TVs, mobile devices and tablets:
You’ll pay $49.99 for the basic multichannel package with increasing costs across three additional tiers. Channel availability and pricing may vary by ZIP code.
| Package Tier | Cost | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Access | $49.99 a month | 50+ channels, including networks, ESPN, CNN, Disney and Cartoon Network |
| Core | $54.99 a month | 60+ channels, including IFC, Sundance, NBA TV and ESPNU |
| Elite | $64.99 a month | 90+ channels, including Hallmark, Fusion and other niche and sports channels |
| Ultra | $84.99 a month | 90+ channels, including HBO and Showtime |
Upgrade your package with premium channels and an array of sports options through add-ons.
| Add-on | Cost | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Sports Pack | $10 a month for Core, Elite or Ultra subscribers | NFL RedZone, NBC Sports, Longhorn Network and more |
| HBO or Cinemax | $15 a month | Choose from two premium channels — or bundle for savings |
| Espanol Pack | Up to $4.99 a month | Universo, Fox Deportes, Nat Geo Mundo and more |
| Curiosity Stream | $2.99 a month | Science, tech, history and nature documentaries on demand |
With PlayStation Vue doomed to wind down its services in January 2020, it is no longer accepting new subscribers, effectively ending its advertised free five-day trial.
PlayStation Vue is comparable to a traditional cable package. You’ll get the networks, plus a big range of cable stations. Sports channels are noticeable missing from the basic service, but you can sign up for an additional Sports Pack. Other add-ons are also available.
PlayStation lets you control how much data you use depending on the quality you’re looking for.
| Quality | Data use |
|---|---|
| Low | 1 GB data every 2 hours |
| Medium | 1 GB data every 1 hour |
| High | 1 GB data every 30 minutes |
Review by
Kelly Waggoner is editor-in-chief at Finder US. She's worked with publishers, magazines and nonprofits throughout New York City, including ghostwriting a how-to on copyediting for the Dummies series. Between projects, she toys with words, flips through style guides and fantasizes about the serial comma's world domination.
PlayStation Vue is a multichannel streaming option to replace traditional cable. But it’s not cheap. And if you’re not already a subscriber, you may be out of luck: PlayStation is shuttering this service on January 30, 2020, citing too much competition.