Sony reportedly planning pay TV launch in US

Consumer electronics giant Sony is at an advanced stage of planning a multichannel TV service that could launch in the US later this year, according to press reports.

According to trade paper Variety, Sony is in active talks with at least two major content providers to license their channels, with a view to rolling out a service later this year. According to Variety, Sony is contemplating the launch of a package of linear channels on the traditional pay TV model delivered over the internet with national reach.

A move into the pay TV space would enable Sony to target its base of connected devices including PlayStation consoles, connected Bravia TV sets and Blu-ray players.

Unlike technology giant Intel, which is also reported to be at an advanced stage of plans to launch a TV service, Sony is not believed to be considering offering channels on an à la carte basis.

Sony was reported to be mulling the launch of such a service a year ago but to have pulled back over concerns that cable operators could move over time to introduce bandwidth caps. The need for a large upfront investment in content rights without an existing subscriber base over which to monetise those rights could also be a cause for concern.