Sony is turning the PlayStation 5 into more than just a platform to play games by rolling out a completely free way to watch live television directly from the console's home screen.
The new service arrives at no cost and requires nothing beyond an existing PlayStation account to start streaming.
PS5 Is Getting Over 100 Live TV Free Ad-Supported Channels
Sony officially launched Live TV on PS5, giving players in the United States access to more than 100 live channels operated by Sony Pictures Television.
According to Sony, the service offers a "free ad-supported experience," meaning there is no subscription fee and no additional app download required, just an existing PlayStation account and a trip to the console's Media tab.
The launch lineup spans a wide range of genres.
Movie channels cover action, horror, and science fiction through outlets like MovieSphere by Lionsgate, 50 Cent Action, FilmRise Free Movies, Sony One Horror Hits, and Cinevault.
TV programming includes long-running favorites such as "Community," "The Shield," "Hell's Kitchen," "The Walking Dead," "Forensic Files," "Unsolved Mysteries," "Deal or No Deal USA," "Fear Factor," and "Ice Road Truckers."
Anime fans get access to titles like "Naruto," "Sailor Moon," "Hunter x Hunter," and "Death Note," including dedicated Crunchyroll box set channels.
On the other hand, sports coverage pulls from FOX Sports, NASCAR, NBC Sports Now, UFC, and the NFL Channel, covering football, hockey, motorsports, golf, boxing, and soccer. News and weather round out the offering through channels like NBC News Now, Fox Weather, and LiveNOW from FOX.
PS5 Also Has On-Demand Streaming Options
Beyond the live channels, players also get access to a growing slate of on-demand movies, series, and specialty content sitting alongside Live TV within the same Media section, as per Engadget.
This builds on infrastructure Sony first introduced back in October 2023, when Sony Pictures Core, previously known as Bravia Core, launched on PS5 and PS4 as a dedicated on-demand storefront offering early access to select Sony Pictures films alongside its broader movie and TV catalog.
Signing into Live TV on PS5 links a player's PlayStation account directly to a Sony Pictures Core account, tying the two services together under one sign-in rather than requiring separate logins.
Together, the live channels and on-demand library give PS5 owners a fuller entertainment package built entirely around Sony's own content pipeline, all accessible without leaving the console's existing interface.
Sony Pictures Television on PS5
The rollout reflects a broader industry shift toward free ad-supported streaming television, a model that has grown increasingly popular as subscription fatigue pushes viewers to resist stacking yet another paid service.
By building Live TV directly into the PlayStation 5's Media tab, Sony is positioning the console as more of an all-in-one entertainment hub rather than a device used purely for gaming. The new experiences sit alongside existing subscription apps like Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video already available on the platform.
Content partners contributing to the launch lineup include Amazon MGM Studios, NBCUniversal, ESPN, A+E Global Media, AMC Global Media, Lionsgate, and Fubo, among others.
Sony has said the channel lineup will continue evolving with refreshed programming and new additions over time, and the company is reportedly already considering expanding Live TV on PS5 beyond the US, with Canada named as a likely next market.
