While not as widely recognized as giants like Netflix or Hulu, Sling TV has carved out a significant niche in the streaming landscape. Launched in 2015, it pioneered the concept of live TV streaming, offering a budget-friendly alternative to traditional cable subscriptions. With a plethora of popular channels, a DVR service, and the flexibility to watch on up to three devices simultaneously, Sling TV caters to a wide audience. Dive into the details below to understand what Sling TV offers, including channel lineups, sports coverage, and monthly pricing.
What Is Sling TV?
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Sling TV is a subscription-based live TV service that delivers a variety of popular channels, live sports, and news without the hassle of long-term contracts. It's an attractive option for cord-cutters, offering more affordable pricing compared to services like YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV. Sling TV's unique approach allows subscribers to choose plans tailored to their specific interests rather than a generic content package. Each plan comes with 50 hours of DVR storage, enabling you to record and watch your favorite shows and live TV at your convenience.
A key distinction—and a major factor in its lower cost—is the absence of local channels like ABC, CBS, and NBC. To compensate, Sling TV suggests pairing its service with an HD antenna (sold separately) to access local programming.
Sling TV is compatible with a wide range of devices, including Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, PS5, PS4, Xbox, select Samsung, LG, and Vizio smart TVs, Google TV, Xfinity devices, TiVo, and more.
Does Sling TV Have a Free Trial?
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Unlike competitors such as Fubo, Sling TV does not provide a free trial for new subscribers. However, it does offer Sling Freestream, a free streaming service featuring numerous channels and ad-supported content at no cost.
What Channels Does Sling TV Include?
Sling TV offers two main plans: Orange and Blue, each priced at $45.99 per month, yet featuring different channel selections based on your viewing preferences. For a comprehensive experience, you can merge the Orange and Blue plans for $60.99 per month, accessing all 46 channels, including 22 exclusive ones.
The Orange plan, ideal for sports enthusiasts and families, includes channels like ESPN, Disney Channel, Cartoon Network, HGTV, Food Network, Lifetime, Nick Jr., Comedy Central, TBS, and more. It offers 35 channels, with eight exclusive to this plan, and supports streaming on one device at a time, with options to expand.
The Blue plan, designed for avid NFL fans and news aficionados, features 43 channels, with 16 exclusive ones, including CNN, Bloomberg TV, Fox (in select markets), FS1, Fox News, MSNBC, and NFL Network. This plan allows streaming on up to three devices simultaneously.
Can You Watch Live Sports on Sling TV?
Yes, Sling TV enables you to watch live sports, though you'll need an HD antenna (sold separately) for most local games. With channels divided between the Orange and Blue plans, you'll need to select which sports networks align with your interests.
The Orange plan includes ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3, whereas the Blue plan focuses on NFL Network and FS1. These channels broadcast various live sports, including NFL, NBA, MLB, and more. To enhance your sports viewing experience, consider adding Sling's sports bundle, which grants access to additional channels like NCAA networks, NFL Redzone, MLB Network, NBA TV, NBC Golf, and the Tennis Channel. This service also covers March Madness games.
How Much Does Sling TV Cost?
Sling TV's Orange and Blue plans are each priced at $45.99 per month, or you can combine them for $60.99 per month to access all channels. Currently, there's a promotional offer of 50% off your first month, regardless of which plan you choose. For even greater savings, you can prepay for three months starting at $99.
To enhance your Sling TV experience, you can add upgrades. For avid DVR users, the Unlimited Cloud DVR upgrade costs an additional $5 per month and includes the Auto Record feature, allowing you to save live sports events for up to three days. Sports enthusiasts can also add a sports bundle for $11-15 per month (depending on your base plan), offering more live sports channels.
For more information on streaming platforms, explore guides on 2024 Hulu Subscriptions, Netflix Plans, ESPN+ Plans, and Disney+ Plans.
