Turns out that Sony’s entrant into the TV-based entertainment market is getting pricier. With a planned price increase at the end of the month, new subscribers to Playstation Vue will pay more overall. Playstation Vue is the online TV service that Sony has used to attempt to compete more directly with the likes of YouTube TV.
The new pricing for the four PlayStation Vue tiers will be $49.99 for the Access subscription, $54.99 for Core, $64.99 for Elite, and $84.99 for Ultra. Any of the more granular packages will remain the same in terms of content and price. Current PlayStation Vue subscribers will begin to see the $5 price increase on their first bill on or after July 31st.
The reasons for this price change come down to two main factors. As Sony puts it, “costs rising each year for content,” is a big driver behind this policy change. The bigger shift is one of market conditions though, Their main competitor in YouTube TV recently added the Discovery Network line of shows and content to their offering. This includes Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, and MotorTrend for those wondering.
Sony wants to get ahead of their competition by licensing more content, and that will be more expensive as a pricing war could well break out between dueling streaming services over contracts with different networks. After all, it’s likely that the goal is to try and grab an exclusive contract for content your opponent doesn’t have is the main goal here.
And with media conglomerates like Viacom continuing to hold out against the increasing pressure of online media, it’s likely that more dump trucks filled with money will be needed to dislodge them and allow more people across the globe to watch their content.
In the blog post explaining this change, Sony emphasized a commitment to quality programming at an affordable rate. They also affirmed their commitment to added features like multi-view on PS4 and Apple TV, the most simultaneous streams at home, and conflict-free DVR, all at no extra cost.
With new content heading to the platform like beIN Sports, and soon to be launched NHL Network and ACC Network, Sony will probably be adding more content in the coming months. Let’s just hope that it continues to be a good deal for the money to existing customers.
