LiveTV[3] The Live TV feature of PlayTV provides access to free-to-air (unencrypted) channels through the DVB-T network.

Users are able to pause, rewind, and fast forward through any recently viewed material, as well as record and toggle subtitles and audio descriptions.

Content in the library can be exported to the PlayStation 3's main menu and stored alongside the user's other video files.

During playback of recorded content, users have the ability to pause, fast forward, rewind, skip, and turn subtitles and audio descriptions on or off.

Settings and other features[3] Sony previously stated that PlayTV would be able to record TV while playing PS3 and PS1 games, the code for the function has already been incorporated in the version 2.41 firmware update.

[9] First week shipments of PlayTV in the UK were reportedly 85,000 units, apparently with "specialist and national press giving thumbs up to the device.

[2] [12] The update underwent testing in both countries due to the wide availability of HD channels and use of common broadcast codecs (MPEG 2/MPEG 4).

There were seemingly never plans to release PlayTV or a similar device for use with North American NTSC/ATSC broadcasts, though the PlayStation Vue OTT streaming service was available through PS3 consoles prior to its shutdown in January 2020, and carried local channels in certain areas.

A further update was announced on 2 April 2009 that will include new volume and search controls, upscaling of standard definition (SD) content and faster access to TV shows from the XMB menu system.

While part of the update is free, an unlock key must be purchased from the PlayStation Store in order to access some of the features (listed below).

It also can be used in Windows by patching the USB IDs in the driver of a card with the same dibcom hardware (such as the Pinnacle PCTV Dual DVB-T Diversity Stick).

[citation needed] An unofficial Windows application (in Spanish language only) allows users to edit the file channel_ps3.bin and customize the order of channels in the PlayTV software (a function not normally available).