Earlier today we posted a report titled "The Industry knows that the Pay-TV Ice Cube is Melting," that described how TV as we knew it was going to radically change over the next year with multiple new online TV services coming to market. The report estimated that Apple's new Apple TV service would cost somewhere in between $25 and $35 per month. There was no price known for Sony's upcoming service, until now.

Earlier today, Sony Corp launched its PlayStation Vue Web video service in three cities, New York, Chicago and Philadelphia. The new service is targeting customers looking for cheaper alternatives to cable with packages starting at $50. Vue will be available initially on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 video game consoles and then expand to other cities and for iPad users shortly.

The Web and cloud-based television service, which allows users to access live TV and on-demand video, has been in test mode since November. Sony joins several new competitors in online video services with one of the largest packages of channels.

According to Reuters who broke this story, "Sony's service will have more than 85 channels, including programming from three major networks, CBS, Fox and NBC Universal in addition to media companies Discovery Communications, Scripps Networks Interactive, Turner Broadcasting and Viacom. The $50-per-month starter package offers over 50 channels. 

Andrew House, President and Group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. and Group Executive in charge of the Network Entertainment Business stated that "Everyday TV is about to become extraordinary with our new cloud-based TV service, PlayStation Vue. PlayStation Vue reinvents the traditional viewing experience so your programming effortlessly finds you, enabling you to watch much more of what you want and search a lot less. PlayStation Vue brings the best of live TV and a robust catalog of the latest content, always keeping you connected to what's popular, new and trending."

Interestingly Sony's Vue will offer NBC programming and I didn't read about any conditions attached to that offering. In the Wall Street Journal's report that was published yesterday, they had noted that there was a problem with Apple-NBC negotiations. If Apple has to, they could always try to force the issue with the DOJ. Apple is considered an Online Video Distributor (OVD) and the DOJ warned NBC about playing games against competitors such as Apple, Netflix, Amazon and others. You could read about that here.

Though in the end it would be best for both parties to figure out a solution that is fair. If Sony got the green light from NBC, I'm sure that they won't discriminate against Apple's future TV service because it could get very ugly really fast.  

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