With cord cutting on the rise, many services offer the ability to stream sans cable. Sony introduced its PS Vue as a cable alternative. It's a means to watch television without a satellite or cable subscription. However, is PlayStation Vue good? Find out in this intro to cord cutting PlayStation Vue review. [Read: Intro to cord cutting: Sling TV review - TV packages DVR, and more]
Sony Offers Playstation Vue As A Cable Alternative
PlayStation Vue comes in several tiers. There's a basic Slim Access $30 per month package. For more channels, PlayStation vue as a cable alternative features Core Slim at $35, Elite Slim at $45, and $65 for the Ultra Slim subscription.
However, PS Vue tiers vary by market. Therefore, some larger cities offer PlayStation Vue at a base price of $40 a month. Aaccordingly, higher tiers clock in at $45, $55, and $75 monthly.
Access Slim: $30/month
Core Slim: $35/month
Elite Slim: $45/month
Ultra Slim: $65/month
PlayStation Vue review: Channel lineup
The Various Ps Vue Plan Options
The basic PlayStation Vue as a cable alternative package boasts a lineup of 45 channels. Available channels go up from here with Core Slim offering over 60 channels and the comprehensive 90 channels with Ultra Slim.
Access Slim includes default channels of ESPN and the Disney Channel. Step up to the Core Slim tier to gain access to the NFL Network and ESPN U. ELite Slim offers EPIX. Finally, Ultra Slim grants access to premium channels like HBO and Showtime. But while there's a lot of choice, you'll notice a few notable absences. In my PlayStation Vue review, I was a bit disappointed at the lack of Viacom channels. There's no Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, MTV, and other Viacom offerings. [Read: 6 Must-have Kodi addons for broadcast TV streaming 2017]
Additionally, local network access varies by market. If you live in a larger city like NYC or Philadelphia, you'll have streaming access to CBS, Fox, NBC, and ABC. Yet smaller markets don't benefit from local stations. Sure, the price is bumped down to $30 rather than a starting price of $40. Nevertheless, this in turn requires either a subscription to a service like CBS All Access or an over the air (OTA) antenna. [Read: 10 Best legal streaming addons for Kodi media center]
Streaming sports with PlayStation Vue
Sports Streaming On Ps Vue
Sports streaming is one of the top reasons many consumers cling to cable and satellite subscriptions. Luckliy, PlayStation Vue presents a robust sports streaming array. Even the lowest tier includes ESPN and ESPN 2. But the next highest rung grants access to ESPN News and ESPN U.
Moreover, Access Slim delivers NBC Sports Network as well as Fox Sports 1. A tier higher at Core Slim and you get NFL Network and MLB Newtork, while Elite Slim tacks on regional Fox Sports networks. During my PlayStation Vue review, I was pleasantly surprised at the ease of access to sports even at lower tiers. [Read: A cord-cutter's dream all-in-one: OpenFLIXR media server]
PS Vue premium channels: How to watch HBO, EPIX, Showtime on PlayStation Vue
Looking for premium channels on PlayStation Vue? The likes of HBO, Showtime, and EPIX are available. You can access these channels through higher tiers. However, HBO may be purchased as an addon. If you opt for HBO via the addon, it's $15 a month which matches the standalone HBO Now streaming service.
But snagging the maxed out $65 a month Ultra Slim affords HBO and Showtime access. So depending on your plan, Ultra Slim might be your best bet. Access Slim plus and HBO addon clocks in at $45 while Core Slim and HBO is $50. Elite Slim at $45 plus the HBO bundle comes in at $60 so you might as well pay the extra $5 for Showtime and the full channel lineup.
PS Vue device support
Android App Of Ps Vue
Almost as important as channel lineups, device support is key. As the name suggests, Sony's PS Vue does function on the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 consoles. However, PlayStation Vue compatible devices are not limited to Sony devices. Instead, Vue apps for Roku, Apple TV, iOS, Android, and Amazon Fire TV are all available. Notably, there's no Xbox One support. [Read: 10 Best legal Kodi streaming boxes - Best Kodi box 2017]
DVR support in PlayStation Vue
Pausing, Rewinding, And Dvr Is Supported On Most Channels
A staple of cord cutting is the concept of shedding the live TV shackles. Therefore, there PlayStation Vue does offer DVR. Yet its DVR functionality has a few catches. Though there's no limit on the number of hours you can record, you lose recordings after 28 days. Further, HBO, Showtime, and Cinemax programs can't be recorded.
Guide On Ps Vue
Similarly, you can pause and rewind live TV in PS Vue. Although, certain channels lack this feature. CBS and its related properties don't allow pausing and rewinding. In my PlayStation Vue review, I found rewinding and pausing live TV a prevalent ability.
Number of simultaneous users
Sharing logins with family and friends is a common practice. Luckily, PlayStation Vue allows for up to five concurrent streams. This is fairly robust. Although, select channels won't funciton outside your home network which you should be aware of. Still, simultaneous streams is pretty generous and makes PS Vue one of the best available cable alternatives.
PlayStation Vue review: Is PlayStation Vue good?
PlayStation Vue is among the best streaming services available. But should you sign up for PlayStation Vue? This depends on your objectives. If you aim to save money, the first two tiers of PlayStation Vue offer monetary savings over a traditional satellite or cable package. If you need everything maxed out, you'll likely shell out about $60-$70 for one of the higher end tiers. PS Vue does boast wide spannign device compatibility which is a major plus. Additionally, it's got a strong DVR and the ability to rewind and pause live TV on many channels.
The major blemish is lack of Viacom support. Without Viacom properties, there's no MTV access or Comedy Central. For some, this is a deal breaker. Aside from its missing Viacom properties, PS Vue as a cable alternative is likely the best cable alternative currently available. With its beefy device compatibility, strong channel lineups, and excellent feature set, it's a step in the right direction for core cutters seeking a cable replacement.
Your turn: Which cord cutting services do you recommend?
I am a staff writer at SmartHomeBeginner, and a freelance writer with a focus on tech media. I run Cup Of Moe and have been featured in Electromaker, MakeUseOf, The Penny Hoarder, TechBeacon, Cliqist, Bubbleblabber, DZone, and EpicStream. As an HTPC enthusiast, I'm quite fond of my Plex server and enjoy playing with my Raspberry Pi. When I'm not hammering away at my keyboard, I can be found drinking far too much coffee, running, and listening to vinyl.
