Sony’s Free TV on PS5 Highlights FAST Streaming’s Growing Appeal

The streaming industry is undergoing another shift as Sony brings free, ad-supported television directly to the PlayStation 5. The new Live TV on PS5 service was launched in the US on August 31 with more than 100 live channels and an ever-growing library of on-demand content.

The move puts Sony into the expanding FAST, or free ad-supported streaming television, space. Pluto TV, Tubi and The Roku Channel have already paved the way for free, ad-supported content as an alternative to the often subscription-laden streaming landscape.

Key Highlights

• Sony’s Live TV on PS5 offers 100+ free, ad-supported channels across movies, sports, news, TV shows and anime.
• FAST streaming provides a free alternative to subscription services, combining scheduled linear-style channels with on-demand content supported by advertisements.
• Sony plans to expand Live TV beyond PS5, with Canada and BRAVIA televisions among the next steps for its growing FAST strategy.
  

Sony brings more than 100 channels to PS5

You can watch Live TV on PS5 via the Media section on the console. You can access the service by logging into a PlayStation account and selecting the Live TV icon.

The launch lineup spans multiple categories including movies, television shows, anime, sports, news, and creator-focused programming. Sony says the service features content from major brands and partners including Amazon MGM Studios, Crunchyroll, FOX, NBCUniversal, NFL Channel and UFC.

Programming includes shows like The Walking Dead, Community and The Shield, with sports coverage featuring FOX Sports, NASCAR, NBC Sports Now and UFC. Some of the anime programming includes titles like Naruto, Sailor Moon, Hunter X Hunter and Death Note.

FAST offers another route through streaming overload

One reason FAST services are attractive is they remove another monthly subscription from the mix. Instead, they watch ad-supported programming.

The format also recaptures some of the feel of traditional linear TV. Viewers can skip the time spent sifting through large on-demand libraries and opt for scheduled channels to start watching what’s already playing.

That doesn’t mean FAST is a replacement for paid streaming. Subscription platforms still put a premium on on-demand libraries and exclusive programming, but free services can provide an alternative viewing option, too.

PS5 is becoming more than a gaming console

Sony’s strategy also adds another entertainment function for the PS5. The company says Live TV on PS5 will continue to add new programming, new channels and more content. Sony also plans to bring the service to Canada and is looking at other territories.

Sony Pictures Television meanwhile has separately confirmed the experience will also be rolled out to BRAVIA televisions later in 2026, expanding the FAST offering beyond the gaming console.

For now, the PS5 launch is a sign of how free ad-supported television is entering the wider streaming ecosystem. Instead of displacing paid platforms, FAST services are building another way for audiences to find and watch television without adding another subscription.

Sony’s PS5 strategy could reshape free streaming

By putting FAST programming directly on the PS5, Sony gives free TV an important home in an existing entertainment ecosystem. The service doesn’t require viewers to buy another streaming device, and advertising is the revenue model behind the free access. For PlayStation owners, this could make the console useful for more than just gaming, especially for casual viewing.

Sony’s plans to expand in Canada and other markets could extend the service’s reach further. As more platforms bundle gaming, live TV and on-demand entertainment, FAST may become an increasingly familiar way for audiences to access free programming.