Sony is giving PlayStation 5 owners in the U.S. another reason to use the console when they are not gaming. The company has launched Live TV on PS5, a free, ad-supported service that puts more than 100 live channels and a growing library of on-demand programming directly inside the PS5 Media section.

It is a straightforward idea, but one that could make a difference for households where the PS5 is already the main screen in the living room. Instead of bouncing between separate apps for a quick news update, a movie, sports highlights, or something to leave on in the background, players can open the Media tab, select the Live TV on PS5 icon, sign in with their PlayStation account, and start watching. No new hardware or separate subscription is required.

The new experience is powered by Sony Pictures Television and follows the familiar free ad-supported streaming television, or FAST, model. Viewers do not pay a monthly fee, but programming is interrupted by ads, much like traditional cable television. Sony is positioning it as a low-friction option for people who want something to watch without another login, another bill, or several minutes of scrolling through on-demand catalogs.

At launch, the channel lineup covers the broad categories most people expect from a cable-style guide. There are movie channels such as MovieSphere by Lionsgate, 50 Cent Action, FilmRise Free Movies, Sony One Horror Hits, and Cinevault. The TV selection includes shows such as Community, The Shield, Hell’s Kitchen, The Walking Dead, Forensic Files, Unsolved Mysteries, Deal or No Deal USA, Fear Factor, and Ice Road Truckers.

Anime is also a meaningful part of the package rather than an afterthought. Sony says PS5 owners can find programming based around Naruto, Sailor Moon, Hunter x Hunter, and Death Note, alongside exclusive Black Clover and Box Sets channels from Crunchyroll. That makes sense given Sony’s ownership of Crunchyroll and the natural overlap between console audiences and anime viewers.

Sports fans will see channels and programming tied to FOX Sports, NASCAR, NBC Sports Now, and UFC, with coverage spanning MMA, football, hockey, motorsports, golf, boxing, and soccer. Sony is careful to describe the service as a mix of sports programming rather than a replacement for a full live-TV subscription, so viewers should not expect every major live game or event to be included. Still, the availability of free sports-focused channels could be useful for fans looking for news, analysis, highlights, and shoulder programming without paying for a cable bundle.

The news offering includes NBC News Now, Fox Weather, and LiveNOW from FOX, while the more unusual parts of the catalog reach into creator-led entertainment and specialty channels. Sony specifically highlighted Hot Ones, Spotify’s The Ringer, Futcrunch, Idle Mode, gaming and esports content, plus the exclusive eCLUTCH channel.

The bigger story is not just the individual channels. It is Sony making the PS5 more deliberately useful as an entertainment device between game sessions. Consoles have been multimedia machines for years, but streaming services often live as separate apps competing for attention on a crowded home screen. A dedicated live-TV destination gives the PS5 a more TV-like role, especially for viewers who still enjoy the lean-back experience of turning something on without deciding exactly what to watch.

That distinction matters in a streaming market increasingly built around free, ad-supported options. Subscription fatigue is real: households can easily end up paying for several video services while still spending too much time figuring out what is worth watching. FAST services trade the control of a fully on-demand platform for simplicity – pick a channel, watch what is on, and accept the ad breaks in exchange for no monthly fee.

For Sony, Live TV on PS5 also creates another layer of value around the console ecosystem. A player who boots up the PS5 to watch a movie, catch a news update, or keep a sports channel running may be more likely to stay within PlayStation’s storefront, media offerings, and advertising environment. Sony’s announcement came from Grace Chen, vice president of Network Advertising, Loyalty and Licensed Merchandise, which also signals that advertising is central to the strategy.

There are a few important limits. Live TV on PS5 is launching only in the United States for now, and Sony says channel availability can vary by local market and change over time. The company says it is looking to expand the service to Canada and will explore additional regions, but it has not announced timing for those plans.

For U.S. PS5 owners, though, the appeal is easy to understand. Live TV on PS5 is not trying to replace Netflix, a cable package, or a premium sports service. It is a free, built-in option for the moments when you simply want to turn on the TV – whether that means a familiar sitcom, an anime marathon, a live news feed, a horror movie channel, or sports programming – without reaching for another device or opening another paid app.