The potential of PlayStation Vue and Subsidized sales, can it change the industry?

[KBG29]

I am very interested in what could happen if Sony unleashes the beast of subsidized consoles. How much of a wrench could this put in sales predictions?

With Playstation Vue right around the corner, and the number of cable boxes in the US and globaly still on the rise, how big of a factor could this be. Many places show an estimate of over 200M cable boxes in the US, and predict over 350M world wide right now. PS3 only sold ~30M units in the US according to VGChartz, and even the PS2 was only just north of 50M. This opens PS4 up to a market that is 4 at least 4 times bigger in the US. I think subsidizing sales through PSN could have a major effect on sales.

I am looking at the situation right now thinking, PlayStation Vue Basic,  and Playstaion 4 on a 2 year contract for as low as $50 a month. $30 - $35 a month for a real basic plan, and $15 to $20 towards the PS4. That would give Sony anywhere from $360 to $480 for every PS4 sold. 

Of couse there would be other plans. Playstation Vue Expanded, PS Now, PS Music, and PS+ with a PlayStation 4. Zero down. $100 a month for 2 years. $50 for Vue, $15 Now, $10 Music, $5 PS+, $20 PS4.

Then maybe PS Vue Complete, PS Now, PS Music, and PS+ with 2 Playstation 4's and a PSTV. Zero down. $150 a month for 2 years. $100 Vue, $10 Now, $5 Music, $5 PS+, $30 2 PS4's, a free PSTV. 

This program could be offered at all major retailers brick and motor (Walmart, Gamestop, Best Buy, Target, Video Only, etc.), and online (Amazon, Sony Store, and where ever else). Giving people the oppertunity to do all of their buisness at a local store could be another major benefit of OTT TV. With certified dealers for PSN and PSH all over the place, customers could deal much more quickly and easily with there store of choice as opposed to having to go wait in line at the one Comcast store every 30 miles.

 

This would allow Sony to bring the price of the PS4 down to zero dollars up front in a matter of no time. It could help them raise demand, and due to the higher production it could drive thre price per unit even lower. It would also give people more incentive to be in every one of the PSN services as the more they do the better deal they get. The best part about it for Sony is, just like the Cable and Smartphone providers, they can actually sell the hardware way over its sticker price by distracting people with the monthly price.

For all of us gamers it would benifit us in the fact that PSN would be raking in cash, and helping Sony put way more money into game development and network upgrades. It would also give us a chance to jump on the bundle bus, and pick up all of the services together with something like a 20% dicount compared to buying each individual service.

So what do you guys and gals think of this hypothetical possility? Would it send sales into a mad craze? Would you be interested? How about PSN service bundles in general?