March 29, 2018January 10, 2019

Introducing a New TV & Video Discovery Experience on PS4

Starting today, the TV & Video experience on PlayStation 4 is getting a complete refresh in the U.S. The new design puts content front and center, making it easier for you to discover and watch the best movies and TV shows available across your favorite streaming services, such as Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, and YouTube, in addition to PlayStation Video and PlayStation Vue. Canadians will also enjoy the same refreshed interface with access to streaming services like Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, and Crunchyroll, in addition to PlayStation Video.

Browse in one place – You can now find trending content or discover new movies, TV shows, live TV events and user-generated content from your favorite video services in a single place, without jumping in and out of apps. TV & Video is now a central destination for exploring content and easily renting, purchasing, or subscribing to services that give you access to the content you want to watch.
Featured and Spotlight categories – The ‘Featured’ section shows you a mix of the best content from various video services. We also have a ‘Spotlight’ section that shows you popular content based on a rotating theme, such as “Superheroes” or “Award Season.”
Personalized YouTube experience – You can link your YouTube account to your PlayStation Network account to get personalized recommendations in the YouTube section. Personalized recommendations for other services are coming soon too!
Currently trending live channels on PlayStation Vue – The PlayStation Vue section shows you live channels that are most popular now in your area. PS Vue subscribers get one-click access to the livestreams and the content shown will be tailored to your subscription plan.
Direct app access – With the updated interface, you still have fast access to the video apps you use most, a full list of all available video services, and your PlayStation Store video library in ‘My Videos.’

We hope you enjoy the new look and feel of the PS4 system’s TV & Video experience, and we’ll continue to update with additional features… so stay tuned and keep checking back!

Comments are closed.

210 Comments

isaiasdelgado
March 29, 2018 at 6:26 pm PDT

I don’t like this please give us the option to change this I really hate it like what the heck man put it back
Mosqutus
March 29, 2018 at 6:58 pm PDT

This was a horrible update! I agreed that the TV & Video section needed to be updated. But why make it an app? Why not follow the rest of your UI and place the streaming apps into a customizable folder? Geez! Keep it simple.
Infernal_Adze
March 29, 2018 at 7:00 pm PDT

I’ll be frank, I dislike this update. It has increased the time it takes for me to go from the start screen to my preferred app. Also, I am not interested in whatever an algorith says I should watch. I have no interest in purchasing media or using Playstation Vue, Prime Video, Hulu, or any other service that I am not currently paying for. A suggestion for improvement: allow streaming apps to be placed on the start screen. This would bypass the need to wait for the TV and Video folder to load.
ATOMS11
March 29, 2018 at 7:04 pm PDT

Well done.
Matrix_Lion
March 29, 2018 at 7:38 pm PDT

This is terrible Sony. Change it back. No one asked for this update.
- Elvick_
  March 29, 2018 at 9:23 pm PDT
  
  To be fair, people (myself included) asked them to fix the TV/Video section… but we wanted apps to be treated like games so we could manually organize them how we see fit and that would remove the tedious load that the old screen had since it would load PS Store stuff in there to advertise stuff we don’t want.
  
  But nobody, and I do mean nobody, asked for things to be even SLOWER as they now are.
FeistFan
March 29, 2018 at 7:55 pm PDT

I hate this change.

1. It just takes longer to load. If I know I want to go to Netflix, you’re making it take longer. That’s annoying.

2. It doesn’t know what I own already and what I don’t – MY apps aren’t listed first, it’s in some order someone else selected. If that improves over time as I use apps, it might be tolerable (except for point 1).

3. I don’t need to see ads for shows I can’t watch without buying something else – I pay for streaming services so I don’t have to watch ads. Stop trying to hook me on stuff I have to pay more for – and slowing down the experience just to show me ads (see point 1).
RTistic421
March 29, 2018 at 8:00 pm PDT

Why? This is a step backwards in UX. Not only is there even more ads for things I’m never going to look at/watch, it now takes longer to get to an app. I can’t believe after 4 years we still cant have Netflix in the main bar, for example.
gbrjhsz
March 29, 2018 at 8:10 pm PDT

Here’s an idea for your UI department: LET THE USERS ORGANISE CONTENT ON THEIR CONSOLES.

Here’s another one: MORE STEPS THAN BEFORE TO ACHIEVE THE SAME THING IS NOT GOOD DESIGN.

Get those in your heads and then the next update may even end up being good.
- Elvick_
  March 29, 2018 at 9:21 pm PDT
  
  Less is more. Apparently they don’t teach this anymore, and it’s all about how you can push advertisements on everybody no matter the end user experience.
  
  Netflix should be it’s own tile on the PS4 UI, like any game. Same for every other app. Then we could just organize them through folders of our choosing. And there’d be no additional loading necessary as there was before [for loading up PS Store ads] or the even slower “better” new way.
  
  And we wouldn’t have apps we don’t have installed wasting our time in the UI. But then they couldn’t advertise them to us. *eye roll*
Swaminstar
March 29, 2018 at 8:21 pm PDT

This is horrible. I want my old browsing experience NOW. Allow us to revert ASAP Sony.

Oh and fire the dips@$# that designed this advertising dumpster fire.
salfam12
March 29, 2018 at 8:22 pm PDT

This was rather unneeded, i hate stuff like this, yes maybe it needed an update but not like this, i don’t thinking making a new app and UI were needed, maybe go back to the old system where it was just its own app? floating where i could see it, not needing to let it load, I hate this more then anything, unnecessary changes because “the customer asked for it” i don’]t remember asking for this but lets not listen to what our actual users are saying. At least when you make a big change like this learn from other developers and add the option to pick and choose what you want, maybe even a rollback? because this is just so stupid, as soon as i turned on my ps4 i was upset at seeing this when i just wanted to open YouTube. don’t add extra steps for the simplest task, its moronic and a step back more then it ever will be forward.
Mahlinko
March 29, 2018 at 9:13 pm PDT

It’s terrible. Change it back.
Elvick_
March 29, 2018 at 9:15 pm PDT

This is horrible. Just take us back to PS3/Vita days where apps were… you know, apps. That you just went to, and then got to open. And you only saw what you had installed. Since if you wanted x, y, z. You would install them. If you don’t, then odds are YOU DON’T WANT THEM.

But I assume you’re getting a bigger kickback from companies for doing it this way as it forces apps at us for advertising.

We shouldn’t have to LOAD SOMETHING to then open an app. That’s dumb. Just let apps be their own things again. That we can organize in folders. Then I can just open Netflix QUICKLY. Open Crunchyroll QUICKLY. Rather than this trash.

And this majorly messed with the double PS tapping to swap being a game and app. Now after I go back to a game and try to go back to watching whatever, it open’s this stupid menu instead of the app itself.

Horrible. Just awful. Time to refresh the talent pool you have access too. Things just get worse and worse.
- Gwaeraurond
  March 30, 2018 at 3:26 am PDT
  
  The sad thing is, they can only get away with this because of theor operating system being such that requires updates to access the Internet. They would never get away with doing this on a Sony tablet. This, incidentally, is why people jailbreak consoles. annoyances motivate people to find solutions, then once they have done so it’s a simple temptation to just steal their games. Any money that Sony is making by selling us to the highest bidder will be lost in decreased sales and piracy.
Shin_Gallon
March 29, 2018 at 9:28 pm PDT

It’s like a dumpter fire that someone also poured a bucket of pig vomit into, then sprayed down with yak piss, and I hate it with every fiber of my being.
SpiedemoN
March 29, 2018 at 9:39 pm PDT

This new UI is atrocious. The fact that it’s largely just advertising for all the video apps at once is disgusting. Why make it a launcher that obstructs the PS4 themes, icons, and main XMB? Is whoever made this just a marketing guy that does not care whatsoever? I don’t want to “discover.” I don’t want “recommendations.” I just want to launch my video apps without seeing all of this trash. Also, the newfound sluggishness is a huge deterrent to even watch anything.

So now, before I launch an app, I get rows of advertisements and within the apps themselves more algorithm based adverts… I hate this stuff so much. Thanks for nothing with this “new” garbage video app overlay menu. It sucks.

Whoever worked on this should be ashamed. Whoever gave the go-ahead for it should be ashamed too.

Can you remind us again why you hiked the price for PS+ because it seems like we’re paying for the service as a whole to continually get worse?

Thanks.
RevDMatch
March 29, 2018 at 10:05 pm PDT

My 7-year old was able to click on Netflix and log into his kid-safe account. Now he has to see ads for R-rated movies before getting to watch Ninjago?

Are you kidding me?

This is the most anti-family change you could even dream up. Why doesn’t anyone in the decision-making room at Playstation have children and a moral compass?
- Gwaeraurond
  March 30, 2018 at 3:22 am PDT
  
  I didn’t think of that. I was too annoyed that I had yet another layer of ads to contend with, but you are right: children are forced tosee R-rated ads and are given the ability to access them. Sony os probably breaking a few laws with this move, not the least bit the obvious customer backlash.
NickVQ
March 29, 2018 at 10:21 pm PDT

I am a little bit disappointed with the t.v/app updates. It appears to force advertisement to playstation vue / or buy movies. I would like the option to have the scrolling movie bars for only services I have at the top such as Netflix, Hulu, HBO GO, and whichever I have installed. Or at least the option to organize or turn off certain suggestions bar.

At the moment I think I can accidentally buy a movie from the Store and such.
- Gwaeraurond
  March 30, 2018 at 3:21 am PDT
  
  I didn’t think of that. I was too annoyed that I had yet another layer of ads to contend with, but you are right: children are forced tosee R-rated ads and are given the ability to access them. Sony os probably breaking a few laws with this move, not the least bit the obvious customer backlash.
BobbyRay319
March 29, 2018 at 10:53 pm PDT

I can’t help but wonder what goes through the minds of people who decide to make changes like this that consensus shows people don’t like. And when we complain, they completely ignore it because they know that 1) They already have our money and 2) We’re going to keep giving them more of our money. They make things worse and tell you to get excited about a worse experience. We ask and ask and ask for the ability to rearrange the video apps to put them in the order that we want so we don’t have to scroll all the way to the bottom hunting for YouTube (for example), and they give us this crap? A slower experience that absolutely no one asked for or even wants? Come on Sony… Jesus.
boxerice1977
March 30, 2018 at 12:04 am PDT

You update the media player and now continous play is gone instead there is shuffle. FAHK
- Gwaeraurond
  March 30, 2018 at 3:17 am PDT
  
  My guess is that Sony doesn’t understand the difference between a free product and a paid product. In a free product people expect advertising to support the platform, but a paid product should be ad free. It’s one thing to include bloatware, it’s another to make it impossible to remove and shove it in people’s face like it’s a popup ad or something. Why should I ever purchase anything from a company that treats it’s paid products like this? Why should I buy another Sony console at any point in the future when this is Sony’s idea of a feature? I hope your next console is a complete and total failure. You deserve to go bankrupt.
thescrew
March 30, 2018 at 12:52 am PDT

I didn’t think it was possible to make the TV and Video section even worse and more unintuitive than it was to begin with, yet here we are..
androx11
March 30, 2018 at 1:32 am PDT

Great, so ruining the PS Store with glitchy auto-playing videos and slow loading times wasn’t enough, you guys had to make sure you ruined the dashboard as well. Good thing now we don’t have to scroll through useless video apps, right? Instead we get more advertisements. Got to find a way to make the PS4s slower.

Yeah, no thanks. I already got Hulu on my Switch, once I get Netflix on there I won’t be using your useless and slow video section at all.
Pete41608
March 30, 2018 at 2:46 am PDT

Just like at towards the end of the PS3s life it became obvious that PS+ would become a paid service on PS4, it’ now obvious that Ads will be a huge thing on PS5.

Great job, Sony! This is what we all wanted, thank you!

All these haters whining about Ads & not being able to put the Media Apps they subscribe to directly on the Main Bar, I laugh at you all, you’re embarrassing yourselves.

#PraiseSony4Eva
Gwaeraurond
March 30, 2018 at 3:12 am PDT

WTF is wrong with you, Sony? People have been complaining about all the video Bloatware for YEARS, and how do you respond? You make it worse! I don’t want to see what’s on every freaking channel you were paid to push onto me, and I take offense to being treated like a console that I PAID FOR is some cheap piece of junk that requires ad revenue. Get it through your thick skulls already: I DON’T WANT THIS! I don’t want ANY of these video apps installed, I don’t want to see the video titles inside these apps, and this is so freaking annoying and insulting that now I’m going to have to buy another piece of hardware to watch videos on because I have to go through 3 steps and wade through an ocean of junk just to open the app I want opened. Clearly Sony is either out of touch with what it’s customers want, or it doesn’t care. I bought every Sont console since the PS1, but this makes me less interested in whatever next gen console you are working on because whatever it is I can expect it to be riddled with bloatware.
ell8031
March 30, 2018 at 5:17 am PDT

This update is garbage. Clearly shows Sony is more interested in catering to advertisers than doing right by their customers.
The new TV & Video screen is not only cluttered in and of itself, but now it also clutters up my home screen.
It’s also absurd that it’s now a separate app, and has added a noticeable delay in loading.
I pay for a PS Plus account (as many of us do). I pay to subscribe to these streaming services. I paid a not-insignificant amount of money for this console. Why am I being force-fed more ads, especially for services I *don’t* subscribe to?
Lastly, the option to pin streaming apps to the dock is LONG overdue.
I hope Sony rectifies this trash-heap of an update ASAP.
therealBeefmastr
March 30, 2018 at 5:54 am PDT

This is a hugely bloated change. Wife and children hate it. So much extra garbage on the screen. Doesn’t follow the smoothness or feel of the rest of the existing menus. Probably will buy a Apple TV to replace this mess and just use this machine for gaming.
LTG_
March 30, 2018 at 5:57 am PDT

Can you please overall change the UI…it’s plain and boring looking
TheBionicWoman
March 30, 2018 at 6:35 am PDT

There is no my list or currently watching section for hulu Netflix prime only suggestions you will still jump in and out of apps anyway
TheBionicWoman
March 30, 2018 at 6:37 am PDT

There is no my list or continue watching list for Netflix hulu and prime so what is the point of this
Vazanar
March 30, 2018 at 6:59 am PDT

An update to make things less convenient and more advertising. Don’t give us PR nonsense that this is an improvement. Certainly convinces me to buy only games and nothing else from Sony. Just not to reward them for this. I was doing a couple channels through Vue, but I’ll move that to Amazon.
nateroyal_19
March 30, 2018 at 7:05 am PDT

Garbage, somehow even worse than before. C’mon guys how hard is it? Just let me pin the stuff I use where I want it.
AngryCanuckGamer
March 30, 2018 at 8:47 am PDT

If you don’t like this update, Now that it’s an app, you can always stick it into a folder and never have to see it again.

Just sayin’.
- dopes2infinity
  March 30, 2018 at 8:59 am PDT
  
  Problem with that is that the content is gated behind this app. You can’t easily access the content otherwise… other than voice recognition which is spotty at best.
KazeEternal
March 30, 2018 at 11:00 am PDT

Uninstall would be a nice feature for this.

Is there a reason why this couldn’t have been done in the system space without creating another application? I feel like pressing down should have revealed much of this information. Launching an App is jaring and only acceptable when starting a game or a feature specific viewer like netflix. Aggregates should not be getting this kind of attention. This takes the worst parts of Fire TV and throws it on PS4. Thankfully it isn’t a cancer like the Xbox One interface, but still, this is not idea and is as bolted on as some of the things with PS3. Please start from scratch, redesign, and get back to us. Thankfully I don’t need this to use Netflix directly and I can (when it works) say “PlayStation -> Start netflix”. BTW I would have rather had more time spent on voice support on this thing I didn’t ask for.
sonnylam
March 30, 2018 at 12:16 pm PDT

I dont like this update, its slower, clunky. Change it back please.
Kreils5
March 30, 2018 at 5:09 pm PDT

Great now I have to wait ten seconds to open Hulu/Netflix instead of you guys letting us pin it on the dashboard.. idiots
hardazzdiamond
March 30, 2018 at 5:46 pm PDT

This new tv and video stream board is terrible i hate it. I hate that it just appeared and i want access to the old system as i preferred it to this total trash Sony backdoored us with.
Xero9989
March 30, 2018 at 6:22 pm PDT

Terribly slow to load. I don’t mind the layout, but the extra time that it takes to get the netflix icon to appear isn’t worth the tradeoff in time. The ability to move icons around and hide icons we don’t use would have been a much more worthwhile upgrade. Please reduce the loading time or change the layout back to it’s previous version (or even better yet, allow us to choose which layout we want to utilize so everyone’s happy).
- Xero9989
  March 30, 2018 at 6:24 pm PDT
  
  Also after some research, this was already rolled out in Europe about a year ago, and they weren’t very happy with it either. If their concerns fell on deaf ears then, seems like ours will as well.
  http://www.pushsquare.com/news/2017/06/sonys_improved_the_ps4s_tv_section_and_everyone_hates_it
NO_TIME_FO_DAT
March 30, 2018 at 7:16 pm PDT

I despise the new system. More nonsense advertising in our face on a paid platform. At least have the consideration to offer a edit feature.
eddie_mac_ed
March 30, 2018 at 7:39 pm PDT

I would like this so much better if it was an option along with being able to add already installed quick launch TV apps on the main dashboard. Its everything I love FIVE seconds later all in 1 place instead of just right there, where I can quickly access it….lol No offense to those that worked hard on making it this way and thought that it would be a better change. Why can’t we have both options? :(
gamer8300
March 30, 2018 at 7:45 pm PDT

Great just what i wanted. More friggin steps to get to netflix and hulu. I dont care if you add this new experience or whatever but for gods sake add away to pin apps as well. If not get rid of this garbage!
coolhs1
March 30, 2018 at 7:49 pm PDT

i think these people who leave these negative comment should shut hell up i think the update is great i like the way Sony did it and the new ui is great . it seem no matter what sony does some people will have negative things to say cant please everyone . so forget them
lopalop2
March 30, 2018 at 8:17 pm PDT

Wow! You took my least favorite feature and made it worse! <3 Truly fantastic
Cedon
March 30, 2018 at 8:21 pm PDT

not a fan, at all, Before i scroll over to the video tab and all the apps i use are right there just scroll down to the one i want which is easy since its just apps i use, NOW i scroll over to video, click it to open the video app essentially to find what i want, amidst a sea of other crap which is not pertinent in any way since i don’t use them, i don’t need help “discovering” things, at least i didn’t before, NOW i have trouble discovering the things im looking for because its been helpfully complicated for our convenience
so thanks?
i guess
Russian-JUNKEE
March 30, 2018 at 9:12 pm PDT

Minimalist while being visually engaging, I like it. Only complain being when pressing down on controller it opens a new page rather then moving seamlessly with the main/home page. You guys should design playstation store in a similar fashion.
Buris64
March 30, 2018 at 10:05 pm PDT

The TV/Video section of the PS4 is now ruined. Honestly, whoever made this change must have been high. I understand trying to push advertisements onto your consumers, but come on, the process to launch a simple app is now 3-4x as long and complicated. “No Q&A required”
KILLZONE79
March 30, 2018 at 10:06 pm PDT

I’m confused, if this didn’t require system update, so the TV/Video section is basically live on sonys server so they can change it on us whenever they want!?
Brokenwing1
March 30, 2018 at 10:35 pm PDT

This new update is a joke. All they did was make the advertisements for other streaming services and shows larger. Hulu is third on my list and I never watch it, while HBO is sixth and I watch it all the time. I bought my ps4! I paid for Netflix and HBO, and I pay for internet! Why do I have to be subjected to ads? They are putting content on a device that I own without my permission. We need to start a class action lawsuit because Sony is making money by selling space on property that doesn’t belong to them. Anyhow, I’m gonna start using these apps on another system or upgrade my tv to a smart tv.
Fireshaper10
March 31, 2018 at 1:45 am PDT

I honestly don’t mind the update since all the apps I use on a regular basis fit in the top bar on the front page. If “personalized recommendations for other services are coming” means I can pick which apps to show in the homepage and choose to show either my watchlist or “continue watching” section for each of those apps, I’m sold.
ExpiredWindex
March 31, 2018 at 5:21 am PDT

It says in the US, you change haters could move to Canada and have the old way back!
We’ll greet you with Pancakes and our ex birdly president!

I’m only kidding, we have it here too… i do not see what all the hate is aboot. It even shows me what movies/shows that are on other services. Could get me hooked to another service :).
- EternityInRevers
  March 31, 2018 at 7:57 am PDT
  
  Well a coupe of us don’t want to get hooked on other services. We are content with the ones we have and are already spending money on.
r_Jelly
March 31, 2018 at 6:09 am PDT

Hate this so much am thinking of buying a Roku :(
- r_Jelly
  March 31, 2018 at 11:43 am PDT
  
  Wow that was a hot take. But new appreciation for the seldom used Library tab. Please Sony do not ruin the Library tab.
EternityInRevers
March 31, 2018 at 7:54 am PDT

This is the worst update from PS I have seen in a long time. One there is no background. Two of my apps, the ones I have downloaded or pay for are all at the end of a list I have no control over. Instead of scrolling through a couple rows I now have to scroll through tons of icons. It would be better if you allowed us to adjust the menu, quite a few of us do not use certain apps that you have taken for granted everyone would want at the top. Also t least put a decent background behind it.
K0BR4K1D
March 31, 2018 at 8:36 am PDT

So it’s really bad. It’s slow, clunky, and occasionally refuses to show the apps at all. It really does feel like having to fight my Xbox one to get where I want to go. Even if it works properly, It has added more steps to get to the app you want and loads you into another screen like you’ve opened the settings app or something, why can’t “improving” actually mean that? This is a step backwards.