Sony Corp. is exploring the sale of its Playstation Vue service, which offers a slimmed-down version of cable TV delivered over the internet, said people familiar with the situation. Sony’s move is the latest sign that the four-year-old trend toward cheaper cable-like streaming services also promoted by YouTube, DirecTV and Dish Network has faded.

The company tapped Bank of America Merrill Lynch several months ago to explore a sale, which would include the company’s technology and a subscriber list of around 500,000 households, according to the people. Selling Playstation Vue, which loses money, would help Sony at a time when it is fending off activist investor Daniel Loeb, who is calling on the company to restructure in order to lift its stock price.