PlayStation™Vue Launches In The Greater Los Angeles And San Francisco Bay Area TV Markets; Announces a-la-carte Offerings Nationwide

SHOWTIME®, FOX Soccer Plus and Machinima Available Directly to Consumers Nationwide via PlayStation Vue

06/15/2015

SAN MATEO, Calif., June 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Network Entertainment International LLC (SNEI) and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) today announced the expansion of PlayStation™Vue's multi-channel packages to the Greater Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay Area designated market areas (DMA) as part of the nationwide rollout of its pioneering cloud-based TV service.  PlayStation®4 (PS4™) and PlayStation®3 (PS3™) owners in both markets will be able to subscribe to the service beginning today, with other markets coming later this year.

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PlayStation Vue will also begin offering consumers the option to subscribe to individual channels through its a-la-carte offerings to all PS4 and PS3 owners in the U.S., beginning with SHOWTIME®, FOX Soccer Plus and a new and exclusive premium service from Machinima, with more to come. 

"We're pleased to expand PlayStation Vue's packages to two additional major TV markets, representing the first time consumers on the West Coast will have access to their favorite live and catch-up TV content, as well as cloud DVR with unlimited capacity," said Dwayne Benefield, vice president, head of PlayStation Vue at SNEI. "We are seeing strong engagement from PlayStation fans in the three cities where we initially launched, and the introduction of a-la-carte channels nationwide provides viewers even greater choice and flexibility."

PlayStation Vue offers live local programming so viewers can catch up on local broadcast news or watch their favorite local sports teams in action. PlayStation Vue in the Los Angeles and San Francisco markets will offer users up to 85 channels per market through three existing subscription packages (Access, Core, or Elite) that range from $49.99 to $69.99 per month with no long-term commitment.

PlayStation Vue will be the first pay-TV service to allow users to subscribe to individual channels without requiring the purchase of a multi-channel package. PlayStation Vue's initial a-la-carte offering will launch nationwide this summer with the following networks.

  • SHOWTIME will be available directly through PlayStation Vue for $10.99 a month starting in July – just in time for the season premiere of Ray Donovan. For PlayStation Plus members, the monthly subscription will be available for just $8.99. All subscribers will receive a 30-day free trial.   PlayStation Vue users will be able to enjoy SHOWTIME's award-winning lineup of original programs, uncut Hollywood movies, documentaries, comedy specials and latest sporting events.  PlayStation Vue subscribers to Showtime's a-la-carte service will also be able to access Showtime Anytime on many other devices, including those powered by iOS and Android.
  • FOX Soccer Plus will be available directly to consumers through PlayStation Vue for $14.99 per month, starting in August to coincide with major UEFA Champions League matches.  For PlayStation Plus members, the price will be $12.99. All subscribers will receive a 7-day free trial. With FOX Soccer Plus, viewers can access exclusive match content from the most prominent and highest profile soccer competitions in the world.
  • Machinima, the most dominant programming service for gamer culture and fandom, will debut their first premium TV channel on PlayStation Vue, including exclusive content from Machinima's in house studio. The Machinima channel will be available later this summer as part of PlayStation Vue's Elite multi-channel package, or as an a-la-carte offering for $3.99 per month. For PlayStation Plus members, the price is $1.99 a month. All subscribers will get a free 7-day trial to Machinima, which features original content, including daily news and entertainment shows, new gameplay and original scripted animation and comedy series, along with hundreds of hours of the best content curated from the Machinima network.

About PlayStation Vue  
PlayStation Vue is a pioneering cloud-based TV service that reinvents the television experience. PlayStation Vue streams live, catch-up and cloud DVR TV content over the internet without a cable or satellite subscription to PS4 and PS3 owners. Users with an active PlayStation Vue subscription can also access content on iPad®, with other popular streaming devices coming soon. In addition to a nationwide a-la-carte offering of SHOWTIME, FOX Soccer Plus and Machinima, PlayStation Vue offers viewers a robust multi-channel package of popular networks and channels in the New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, and Philadelphia TV markets. Network partners include CBS, Fox, NBCUniversal, AMC Networks, Discovery Communications, Scripps Networks Interactive, Turner Broadcasting and Viacom.  

For more information, please visit: http://www.playstationnetwork.com/vue

About Sony Network Entertainment International LLC:
Sony Network Entertainment International LLC (SNEI) founded in April 2010, drives the vision, strategy and execution for network services across Sony Group, to offer consumers compelling, connected entertainment experiences across a variety of network enabled devices. Headquartered out of San Mateo, California SNEI's operations span globally across San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, London, Tokyo and more. Through PlayStation®Network, SNEI offers a bevy of premium entertainment services including PlayStation®Store, PlayStation®Plus, PlayStation™Vue, PlayStation™Video, PlayStation™Music and more. With over 65 million active users on PlayStation®Network and 351 billion yen in fiscal year 2014 revenues, SNEI is a core Sony business which continues to grow at breakneck speed as a leading provider of cutting edge digital entertainment experiences.

About Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Recognized as a global leader and company responsible for the progression of consumer-based computer entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) manufactures, distributes, develops and markets the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld  entertainment system, the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system, the PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) portable entertainment system and the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system. SCEI has revolutionized home entertainment since it launched PlayStation® in 1994. PlayStation®2 further enhanced the PlayStation® legacy as the core of home networked entertainment. PSP broadens the entertainment experiences into the portable arena. PS3 is a computer entertainment system that incorporates the powerful Cell Broadband Engine and RSX processors. PS Vita is an ultimate portable entertainment system that offers a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social connectivity. PlayStation®4 redefines rich and immersive gameplay with powerful graphics and speed, intelligent personalization and deeply integrated social capabilities. PSNSM, that includes PlayStation®Store, delivers unparalleled online gaming experience to PlayStation viewers. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, SCEI, along with its affiliated companies, Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd., and its division company, Sony Computer Entertainment Japan Asia, develops, publishes markets and distributes hardware and software, and manages the third party licensing programs for these platforms in their respective markets worldwide.

"PlayStation" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "PS4" and "PS3" is a trademark of the same company. SHOWTIME is a registered trademark of Showtime Networks, Inc. iPad® is a registered trademark of Apple Inc.

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SOURCE Sony Network Entertainment International LLC (SNEI); Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI)

For further information: Sean Yoneda, Sony Network Entertainment International, Sean.Yoneda@am.sony.com, Mary Taing, Sony Computer Entertainment America, mary_taing@playstation.sony.com