PlayStation’s Vue cord-cutting TV service is coming to Android

Sony Interactive Entertainment expands its live media efforts to Android.

The company is launching its PlayStation Vue subscription-based internet TV service on the Google mobile operating system today. If you already have a membership, which starts at $30 per month, you can log in and start watching your shows on the go immediately. PlayStation Vue was already available on iOS in addition to PS4, PS3, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV. The $108 billion cable-provider business is dealing with a growing consumer exodus as some people are choosing to “cut the cord” in favor of innovative web-based providers like Netflix, Twitch, and YouTube. With Vue, Sony is attempting to cause some market disruption of its own by providing live broadcasts of channels like USA, AMC, and ESPN directly over the internet along with DVR-like recording options and video-on-demand.

In addition to the launch of the Android app, Sony has also updated the experience on its consoles. The channel guide on PS4 now puts a video thumbnail of your current show in the corner so that you can keep an eye on the action while seeing what’s on next. Vue engineers have also introduced a quick-navigation menu that includes the much requested “last channel” button. This new menu is also introducing quicker ways for subscribers to get to their My Shows, Guide, Explore, and Search areas.

These improvements should come as welcome additions to Vue members as should the Android support. And Sony will need to keep its subscribers happy as it isn’t the only player in the web-TV space. A program called Sling Television offers a similar lineup of channels and starts at $20 per month. It is on Xbox One as well as mobile and media boxes like Apple TV and Roku.