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Sony to launch cloud TV service in US
2014-01-08 09:41:00| Telecompaper Headlines
(Telecompaper) Sony plans to launch a cloud TV service in the US later this year, CEO Kazuo Hirai announced in a speech at CES in Las Vegas. He said the cloud-based service, building on the technology acquired with Gaikai, will combine "the live TV content people love most about cable" with a large library of video-on-demand content. The user interface will build on viewing habits to make recommendations and develop personalised channels, with different profiles possible for each member of a household. Hirai also promised a more intutive user interface to search through content, using "dynamic filters without having to use multiple boxes", he said. Users can also check what they're friends are watching or recommend and view their own viewing history. The service also provides the ability to watch and resume streams across various connected devices. Hirai said Sony is already well-placed to enter the video market, with over 70 million connected devices in US homes. Based on the number of users streaming videos over its various services, the company would rank in the top 5 cable and satellite providers in the US. The PlayStation 3 also is the number-one device in the world for watching Netflix in the living room. More details of the new service will be released later, with testing expected to start in the US this year.
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Category:Telecommunications