Live TV on PS5 Launches Today With 100+ Free Ad-Supported Channels From Sony Pictures Television

Sony Pictures Television has officially launched Live TV on PS5 in the United States today, August 31, 2026, turning the PlayStation 5 console into a free, ad-supported streaming hub for more than 100 live channels plus a growing on-demand library.

The new experience lives inside the PS5 Media tab under a dedicated "Live TV on PS5" tile. Players can sign in once with their PlayStation account to start watching, and the launch lineup already includes recognizable partners across movies, TV, anime, sports and news.

Sony's PlayStation Blog confirms that the launch slate draws on Amazon MGM Studios, Crunchyroll, FOX, NBCUniversal, an NFL Channel and UFC, alongside Sony-owned libraries. Movies lean on MovieSphere by Lionsgate, 50 Cent Action, FilmRise Free Movies, Sony One Horror Hits and Cinevault. TV highlights include Community, The Shield, Hell's Kitchen, The Walking Dead, Forensic Files, Unsolved Mysteries, Deal or No Deal USA, Fear Factor and Ice Road Truckers from A&E's HISTORY. Anime fans get Crunchyroll-exclusive Black Clover and Box Sets channels, with Naruto, Sailor Moon, Hunter x Hunter and Death Note featured as well.

The sports block is the most aggressive part of the pitch. Live programming covers MMA, football, hockey, motorsports, golf, boxing and soccer via FOX Sports, NASCAR, NBC Sports Now and UFC, with an NFL Channel joining as a marquee partner. News is anchored by NBC News Now, Fox Weather and LiveNOW from FOX, while creator-led programming pulls in Hot Ones, The Ringer, Futcrunch and Idle Mode. Sony is also promoting eCLUTCH, an exclusive gaming and esports channel, as a way to bring core PlayStation users into the Live TV surface.

Sony stresses that Live TV on PS5 is positioned as an extension of the console's existing media surface rather than a replacement for subscription apps. The launch post explicitly tells players to navigate to the Media tab, pick the Live TV tile and sign in with their PlayStation account, with programming availability varying by local TV market and subject to change. The company confirmed that a Canada expansion is planned and said additional regions are under evaluation, but did not give dates.

For PlayStation owners in the U.S., the move effectively gives every connected PS5 a baseline entertainment channel without a separate streaming subscription. Whether it becomes a regular habit for gamers or stays a niche tab for live sports and news will depend on how aggressively Sony keeps refreshing the lineup once the launch buzz fades.