ESPN, Disney and ABC content now available via Playstation Vue

Sony PlayStation’s internet television streaming service dubbed Vue has finally struck a deal with ABC, which means ABC, Disney and ESPN channels and networks will all now become available through the service. ABC prime-time programming also will be offered on-demand in all cities where PlayStation Vue multichannel packages are available.

The service does claim a victory over Sling with its offering of DVR-like playback, which allows viewers to save programming in the cloud for up to 28 days, as well as offering better sports options beyond ESPN, including a wide variety of Fox sport networks.

The list of new channels includes Disney’s biggest names, including ESPN, ABC-owned local stations, ABC Family (soon to be Freeform) and Disney Channel. PlayStation Vue already streams broadcast feeds from CBS, NBC and Fox.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but they said the carriage agreement includes “unique features”, including the ability for PS Vue subs to play multiple streams from one account, and the ability to stream content across multiple devices both in and out of the subscriber’s home.

Sony has marketed PlayStation Vue as a more advanced service than traditional cable or satellite TV services, with an interface that blends live and on-demand content along with personalized recommendations and discovery tools. It’s only available in a handful of markets: Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, New York, Philadelphia and the San Francisco Bay area. He added that Disney’s and ESPN’s addition to PlayStation Vue will ensure that their users get access to one of the most popular television channels. The Xbox from Microsoft is the most commonly used consumer electronics device used for video streaming (14%), followed by the PlayStation consoles (13%). Offering packages that start at $50 per month and stretch up to $70, Vue’s overall approach is strikingly similar to cable, including cable’s notorious tacking on of off-brand channels like Desination America that users are forced to pay for, whether they watch them or not.