Although it may not be as widely recognized as Netflix or Hulu, Sling TV has carved out a significant niche in the streaming wars. Launched in 2015, it was the first service to offer live TV streaming, presenting itself as a cost-effective alternative to traditional cable subscriptions. Sling TV provides subscribers with a variety of popular channels, a DVR service, and the flexibility to watch content at home or on the go across up to three devices. Dive into the details below to discover more about Sling TV, including its channel offerings, sports coverage such as MLB games, and monthly pricing.
What Is Sling TV?
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Sling TV is a subscription-based live TV streaming service that delivers a diverse array of popular channels, live sports, news, and more without any long-term contracts. It's an attractive option for cord cutters due to its affordability compared to larger services like YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV. Sling TV offers various plans tailored to different viewer interests, rather than a generic content package. Every plan comes with 50 hours of DVR storage, enabling you to record live TV and enjoy your favorite shows and movies at your convenience.
One key distinction that contributes to Sling TV's lower cost is its lack of local channels like ABC, CBS, and NBC. Sling recommends pairing your subscription with an HD antenna (sold separately) to access these local channels.
Sling TV is compatible with a wide range of devices, including Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV devices, PS5, PS4, Xbox consoles, 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 other live TV streaming services such as Fubo, Sling TV does not provide a free trial for new subscribers. However, it does offer a related free streaming service called Sling Freestream, which provides numerous free channels and ad-supported content at no cost.
What Channels Does Sling TV Include?
Sling TV offers two primary plans: Orange and Blue, both priced at $45.99 per month but featuring different channel lineups based on your viewing preferences. You can also opt for a combined Orange and Blue package for $60.99 per month, which includes all 46 channels, with 22 exclusive channels.
The Orange plan is ideal for sports enthusiasts and families, offering channels like ESPN, Disney Channel, Cartoon Network, HGTV, Food Network, Lifetime, Nick Jr., Comedy Central, TBS, and more. It includes 35 channels in total, with eight exclusive to this plan, and allows streaming on one device at a time, with options to add more.
The Blue plan caters to professional football fans and news aficionados, featuring 43 channels, including 16 exclusive news and entertainment channels. Notable inclusions are CNN, Bloomberg TV, Fox (in select markets), FS1, Fox News, MSNBC, NFL Network, and more. The Blue plan supports streaming on up to three devices simultaneously.
Can You Watch Live Sports on Sling TV?
Yes, Sling TV allows you to watch live sports, though most local games require an additional HD antenna (sold separately). The availability of sports channels depends on whether you choose the Orange or Blue plan. The Orange plan includes ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3, while the Blue plan offers NFL Network and FS1. With these channels, you can enjoy live events such as NFL, NBA, MLB, and more. For avid sports fans, adding Sling's sports bundle can enhance your access to additional channels like NCAA-specific networks, NFL Redzone, MLB Network, NBA TV, NBC Golf, and the Tennis Channel. This service also enables you to watch March Madness games.
How Much Does Sling TV Cost?
As mentioned, Sling TV's Orange or Blue plans are priced at $45.99 per month, with the combined plan costing $60.99 per month. Currently, there's a promotional offer of 50% off the first month for any chosen subscription. For greater savings, you can prepay for three months at a reduced rate of $99.
You can enhance your Sling TV subscription with additional upgrades. For instance, the Unlimited Cloud DVR feature, available for an extra $5 per month, allows you to record live TV and store it for up to three days with Auto Record. Sports enthusiasts can also add a sports bundle for $11-15 per month (depending on the base plan), which grants access to even more live sports. If you're keen on catching NFL games throughout the season, explore how to watch NFL games online.
For more insights into other streaming platforms, check out guides on 2024 Hulu Subscriptions, Netflix Plans, ESPN+ Plans, and Disney+ Plans.