PlayStation Vue Vs. Xbox One's Sling TV: A Breakdown

Sony Corp (ADR) SNE and Microsoft Corporation MSFT have entered the battlefield again, this time over premium television content instead of video game console supremacy.

Related Link: Sony, Turner Broadcasting Partner For PlayStation Vue

As GameSpot observes, this is not the first time the two tech giants have tried to enter the premium television content game. “Sony has been trying out its own original programming in Powers recently, and Microsoft shut down an experimental Xbox One entertainment division last year,” reported GameSpot.

In an attempt to enter the new space, Sony launched PlayStation Vue last Wednesday, which offers live and on-demand TV content over the Internet. Meanwhile, Microsoft made Sling TV available in the U.S., “a known quantity that straddles the line between on-demand programming options and live TV,” GameSpot explains.

Comparing the two services is certainly difficult since every user's priorities and content preferences are different. So, here, Benzinga tries to simplify the assessment. 

Price

The PlayStation Vue (PSV) service offers a base package that includes 60 channels for $50 a month, and step-up packages for an extra $10 to $20. Sling TV (STV) on the other hand offers 20 channels for $20 a month, and extra channel packages for $5 each. 

Channels

• Since Apple Inc. AAPL has snatched up HBO Now for its own service, the channel is not available for Sony’s or Microsoft’s service.
• PSV offers broadcast channels such as CBS, CBS Plus, and NBC, and several network channels like Animal Planet, CBS, CNBC and VH1. AMC networks will become available in April.
• STV offers a core package that includes ESPN, ESPN2, AMC, TNT, TBS and CNN among others.
• PSV has certain channels that STV doesn’t. For instance, CBS, Fox, NBC, Fox News, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and Bravo. STV meanwhile has some PSV does not, such as ESPN, History Channel and Disney Channel.

Compatible Devices

• PSV works on Sony’s PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4, and will be accessible via iPads soon too. STV works on a wider array of TV devices, namely: Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick and Xbox One. In addition, STV is compatible with Android mobile devices, iOS mobile devices, PCs and Macs.

Availability

• While STV is available in all U.S. continental states, PSV is only accessible in New York, Chicago and Philadelphia. Sony has promised to expand its service to other states soon.