PlayStation Vue Scores NFL Network Carriage Deal

PlayStation Vue has bulked up its sports offerings with a new carriage agreement for the NFL Network and NFL RedZone, the company said Monday.

The Sony Interactive Entertainment-owned streaming service will debut both the NFL Network, which will offer live Thursday Night Football games, as well as the NFL RedZone channel -- which offers look-ins to ongoing games when scoring plays are imminent -- in time for the kickoff of the NFL’s 2016 regular season schedule in September, said company officials.

PlayStation Vue subscribers receiving NFL Network and NFL RedZone will also have access to the services through Watch NFL Network, available on NFL.com, the NFL app across connected TV devices, and via NFL Mobile on Windows, iOS and Android devices, said PlayStation.

“Sports is among the most-watched content on PlayStation Vue, and we’re pleased to add two highly coveted sports networks, NFL Network and NFL RedZone, to the service for football fans to enjoy nationwide,” said Dwayne Benefield, vice president, head of PlayStation Vue. “We’re proud to be able to deliver a unique TV viewing experience through PlayStation Vue with our groundbreaking interface and cloud-based technology, and our agreement with NFL Media allows fans to experience the upcoming football season like never before.” 

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.