Sony's PlayStation 3 to double as IPTV set-top-box

Sony hasn't exactly been shy about expanding the capabilities of its PS3, and according to new reports from The Korea Times, even more non-game-related goodness will be headed its way. Apparently, KT (Korea's primary telecom operator) and Sony will "launch an internet-based TV service in November that runs on the PlayStation 3 game console," and as expected, the machine would act as a set-top-box for KT's IPTV service (Mega TV). Reportedly, neither company was willing to disclose pricing information (or any additional details, for that matter) just yet, so it looks like we'll be forced to play the wait-and-see game for now.

[Thanks, Stafford l.]

[BananaBoat @ Oct 11th 2007 8:25AM]

Why does noone at Sony realize that this is the same failure of a strategy that they used on the Playstation Portable? Give the thing all the functionality in the world, but neglect the most important thing (games). Meh!

[h8rain @ Oct 11th 2007 10:03AM]

But they just added backwards compatibility.

Wait that sounds wrong.......

Oh they remove backwards compatibility, and are going to add TV functions. That makes more sense, since it is a gaming system.

[h8rain @ Oct 11th 2007 10:06AM]

Stupid comment system....

I was supposed to put on my flame suit first :)

(puts on flame now) :)

I will buy a PS3 btw (so I am not just some fanboy), when more games that interest me come out (hopefully the price will be cheaper). Remake FF7 and I am sold :)

[Andir3.0 @ Oct 11th 2007 12:39PM]

~24 Million sold. Total failure.

[Luigi193 @ Oct 11th 2007 8:27AM]

What's a PS3?

[Billy Gun @ Oct 11th 2007 8:37AM]

It's a Blu Ray player. You know, to play movies in HD..

[Richard @ Oct 11th 2007 8:31AM]

Another half hatched idea to attempt to sell some ps3's, i don't know of anyone here in the UK thats been stupid enough to buy one..

[david @ Oct 11th 2007 10:38AM]

LOL, so there's not one stupid person in the entire UK that's bought one? Time to call The Times! Stop the presses, tens of thousands of PS3's were never sold.


Own one, not a fanboy, need better games.

[Captain @ Oct 11th 2007 8:31AM]

Cool. So, how will this compare to Microsoft's Online TV servise for WMC? Is the video quality going tro be HD, SD, DVD quality at least... I would love to see a mass HD IPTV rollout here in the US.

[Tim @ Oct 11th 2007 10:47AM]

Damn, I just bought an Xbox because I wasn't seeing something like this happen with the PS3.

The Windows Media Center/XBox combination runs relatively nice - I've been playing with the Internet TV beta on my 56" HDTV and the quality is decent.

Hopefully Sony will find a way to make a competitive move in the states... I'd love to find a way to get rid of Comcast and see console manufacturers create a next-gen cable tv platform.

[Andir3.0 @ Oct 11th 2007 12:50PM]

You still need broadband internet... As far as I know FIOS isn't as widespread, and it has some "catches" like if you ever cancel the fiber is removed. That leaves Cable and DSL. Last time I checked, DSL didn't have the D/L speeds to support IPTV.

[timatl @ Oct 11th 2007 8:36AM]

Sony needs to apply most of its focus on getting AAA games to the market and make it the PS3 easier to develop games for. It is good they are offering more options but most people want good games. I will be honest, I am a big 360 fan but good competition is always good for the consumer.

[Tim C @ Oct 11th 2007 8:37AM]

Sony needs to apply most of its focus on getting AAA games to the market and make it the PS3 easier to develop games for. It is good they are offering more options but most people want good games. I will be honest, I am a big 360 fan but good competition is always good for the consumer.

[Andir3.0 @ Oct 11th 2007 12:51PM]

+3 points for posting with a couple of your IDs. Great show of honesty there.

[Billy Gun @ Oct 11th 2007 8:41AM]

The Xbox 360 will have IPTV as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9msq5GE3Xw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YCEjqAbe_U

[Luigi193 @ Oct 11th 2007 8:54AM]

Thanks for clearing that up for me Billy Gun.

[dys @ Oct 11th 2007 11:16AM]

looks like a bus of Sony haters has crashed on this page.

[h8rain @ Oct 11th 2007 11:33AM]

Snap!

My iPhone (which is great, but could do so much more) does the same thing! :)

[sycks @ Oct 11th 2007 12:27PM]

Well if you are going to hate something it has to be the "Top Dog" because hating the underdog is just wrong...

It's like robbing the elderly or murder!

Seriously though the more I get for my money the better, I bought a PS3 for multiple reasons as did most people who bought it after Xmas '06. If you don't own one cool. If you do that's cool too.

Be a Fan, not a Fanboy...

[sycks @ Oct 11th 2007 12:27PM]

Dammit my reply was meant for dys

[Brad Murphy @ Oct 11th 2007 6:14PM]

If Sony or MS would simply let me use their device as a practical network media player (streaming DVD/VOB files from my network storage) I would go out tomorrow and buy 4-5 of these PS3's for my home. It's frustrating that the focus for these machines is on adding interesting, but IMHO, impractical service capabilities ( I don't believe for a moment that downloading content will be cheap, fast or as high quality as store bought content).

Give me the ability to stream my VOB/DVD files!!! BTW, yes I know I can do transcoding on the fly and/or transcode my existing files , but I lose video quality and valuable time in the process!