In an unusual move, Sony decided to launch PS Vita TV in Japan before America and Europe. According to Sony Computer Entertainment head Andrew House, the reason behind this is quite simple: there is less competition in domain over there.
"It's still very much in a nascent stage in Japan compared to some of the markets in Europe or the U.S.," he explained. "We felt there was therefore an opportunity to leverage the strengths of PlayStation Vita, which as you know is quite strong in Japan in terms of game line-up, but combine that with the features of a media streaming box, and offer something packaged newly for the Japanese consumer and possibly be at the forefront of creating a new market via that device."
On the other side of the globe, USA and Europe already have well entrenched streaming services such as Roku and Apple TV. "It's a very different landscape when you look at the US and Europe," noted House. "Much greater establishment of streaming video services, and much greater understanding of what that concept's all about."