According to the report, Sony's internet TV service could make its debut on a PlayStation video game & entertainment console, such as Playstation 3, PS Vita, and/or the upcoming new PlayStation 4 which will be on sale before the end of the year, and Sony's Bravia line of TVs. "People who have seen demonstrations" of Sony's TV service told the Journal that it will make recommendations based on what shows and movies subscribers have watched, similar to TiVo,
The two companies are in the process of finalizing terms on the licensing agreement, the Journal said, adding that Sony is also negotiating with the Walt Disney Co., Time Warner Inc., and CBS Corp. — which along with Viacom make up the four largest media conglomerates in the world:
Sony and Viacom finalizing internet TV service deal, report saysAlso, from The Register:
Sony has reportedly reached a preliminary deal with Viacom to bring its cable channels to a new internet TV service its working to launch before the end of the year. According to The Wall Street Journal, the licensing deal would give Sony access to some of the most popular cable TV channels available — Comedy Central, MTV, BET, CMT, VH1, Nickelodeon, and Spike. Sony's planned service would pit the entertainment and consumer tech giant squarely against cable TV providers, as well Intel and Google, who are racing to build out internet TV services of their own.
A RIVAL TO CABLE TV, INTEL, GOOGLE
Sony's plan is to offer an internet TV service that streams channels that are traditionally only available through cable and satellite TV providers, as well as on-demand shows and movies, the Journal report said. Sony currently offers some TV shows and films on-demand through its PlayStation gaming console. According to the report, the internet TV service could make its debut on a PlayStation — the new PlayStation 4 will be on sale before the end of the year — and the Sony's Bravia line of TVs. "People who have seen demonstrations" of Sony's TV service told the Journal that it will make recommendations based on what shows and movies subscribers have watched.
The two companies are in the process of finalizing terms on the licensing agreement, the Journal said, adding that the Sony is also negotiating with the Walt Disney Co., Time Warner Inc., and CBS Corp. — which along with Viacom make up the four largest media conglomerates in the world.
SOURCE THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
RELATED ITEMS WEB TV TELEVISION SERVICE INTERNET TV STREAMING GOOGLE INTEL SONY VIACOM CBS CORP. WALT DISNEY CO. TIME WARNER INC.
Sony to pop 'top Viacom channels' in PlayStations, smart tellies, mobes
Games giant turns to MTV, Comedy Central to fill its new internet video thing - sources
Sony is linking arms with US media goliath Viacom to show top channels on PlayStation games consoles and smart TVs, it is claimed.
An insider whispered to the Wall Street Journal that Sony had reached a preliminary agreement with Viacom to stream its cable channels alongside on-demand content on the Japanese giant's new internet-based TV service.
Sony hopes to roll out the new service by the end of next year, we're told, and is also talking to Time Warner, CBS and Disney about deals.
The PlayStation maker plans to embed the service in its games console and its Bravia tellies, and could expand later to including the TV streams on tablets and phones.
The Japanese firm is just one on a list of tech companies from various sectors that see TV as the next big thing. Intel and Google are also trying to line up telly deals for new streaming services that would compete with popular on-demand video upstarts such as Netflix and LoveFilm.
Viacom - which owns TV channels such as MTV, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central - could be a major partner for Sony. ®
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