Sony to shut down PlayStation Vue in January
Four years after launch, TV subscription to close due to "slow-to-change" industry
Sony has announced it will be shutting down its TV subscription service, PlayStation Vue, after four years.
Users will be able to continue their subscriptions through January 30, 2020, after which point it will shutter for good. All other TV and movie apps will remain on the PlayStation Store as normal. The website currently says that at some point "in the near future," new trial and paid subscription sign ups will be deactivated.
PlayStation Vue launched in March of 2015, but struggled to attract and maintain subscribers throughout its lifespan. The service raised its prices several times over the years, and at the moment the cheapest plan is $50/month.
"Unfortunately, the highly competitive Pay TV industry, with expensive content and network deals, has been slower to change than we expected," said Sony Interactive Entertainment deputy president John Kodera in a blog post. "Because of this, we have decided to remain focused on our core gaming business.
"We are very proud of what PlayStation Vue was able to accomplish. We had ambitious goals for how our service could change how people watch TV, showcasing PlayStation's ability to innovate in a brand-new category within the Pay TV industry. We want to thank all of our customers, some of whom have been with us since PlayStation Vue's launch in 2015."