Sony is Turning the PS5 Into a Free TV Box

PS5 players in the US can now access more than 100 free live channels, along with on-demand movies, sports, news, and other entertainment.

The PS5 is getting a new job, and surprisingly, it has nothing to do with playing games. Sony is bringing free live television to the console, giving PS5 owners in the United States access to more than 100 channels without adding another paid subscription to their monthly bills.

According to the sources, the new live TV service is available through the PS5's Media section and is supported by advertising. Once players sign in with their PlayStation account, they can browse through the available channels and switch between live programming whenever they want.

The channel lineup covers a broad mix of entertainment, including news, sports, movies, and other programming. Sony also offers on-demand content, so users don't have to wait for a particular show or movie to come on. It is a small addition to the PS5, but it makes the console feel more like an all-in-one entertainment machine.

The PS5 already handles streaming services, movies and other media, so adding live television feels like a natural next step. A funny bit of history also lurks behind this announcement. Back in 2013, Microsoft made television a major part of the XBOX One reveal. The company repeatedly pushed the idea of the XBOX as an entertainment and TV-focused device, alongside its gaming features.

The whole "TV, TV, TV" era eventually became one of the more memorable jokes of that console generation.

Fast-forward more than a decade, and Sony is now putting live TV directly onto the PlayStation 5. Funny how things work out, right? To be clear, Sony is not trying to replace cable television with the PS5. The new service is better viewed as an extra feature for people who already use their console as the center of their home entertainment setup.

Sony doesn't mention a separate subscription fee to access the live channels, though viewers will still have to put up with advertising. That free, ad-supported approach could actually make the feature more appealing. Streaming services have become increasingly expensive, and adding yet another monthly bill is hardly exciting.

Access to free channels inside a console many people already own is a much easier sell. Sony also says the on-demand selection will keep growing, suggesting the service could become more useful over time. For gamers, this will likely not change how the PS5 is used every day.

But for anyone who likes having everything in one place, it is a welcome little upgrade. The PlayStation 5 started life as a gaming console, but these days it's picking up side jobs one by one. So, after games, movies, sports, and live TV, what does Sony have planned next?