Sony considering launching paid-for IPTV service?
Big gun to take on major players
Sony is reportedly considering its own IPTV paid television service, tying the offering into its many connected devices, including the PlayStation 3, televisions and Blu-ray players.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Sony believes that it can take on other paid-for television offerings by offering up not only its other content but other people's television output.
The service is apparently being mooted for the US, but could obviously prove to be a major disruptor on a global level.
UK competition
The UK is bracing itself for the launch of YouView next year, but already has a plethora of on-demand services available through a broadband connection.
Foremost among these is the BBC's iPlayer, but there are also key offerings from Sky (Sky Go), ITV (ITV Player), Channel 4 (4OD).
Google is also involved in television over IP, and its Google TV will arrive in the UK next year, while Apple's desire to get involved in the television market has become clear, and Microsoft recently announced a raft of media deals for its Xbox Live service.
Despite the massive competition, Sony is a content creator and has deep links with other companies that are already embedded in television.
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By tying any service into its devices, many could find that any Sony IPTV service is already available on existing televisions, Blu-ray players and, of course, the popular PS3, giving it an immediate potential market of millions.
Patrick Goss is the ex-Editor in Chief of TechRadar. Patrick was a passionate and experienced journalist, and he has been lucky enough to work on some of the finest online properties on the planet, building audiences everywhere and establishing himself at the forefront of digital content. After a long stint as the boss at TechRadar, Patrick has now moved on to a role with Apple, where he is the Managing Editor for the App Store in the UK.