While it may not be as well-known as giants like Netflix or Hulu, Sling TV has carved out a significant niche in the streaming market. Launched in 2015 as the first service to offer live TV streaming, Sling TV has since established itself as a budget-friendly alternative to traditional cable subscriptions. It provides subscribers with access to numerous 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 the channels it offers, sports coverage such as MLB games, and the monthly cost.
What Is Sling TV?
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Sling TV is a subscription-based live TV streaming service that offers a range of popular channels, live sports, news, and more without any long-term commitment. It's a favored option for cord cutters due to its affordability compared to other live TV streaming services like YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV. Sling TV offers customizable plans tailored to specific interests, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. All plans come with 50 hours of DVR storage, enabling you to record and watch your favorite shows and movies at your convenience.
A key distinction (and a reason for its lower cost) is that Sling TV does not include local channels like ABC, CBS, and NBC. Instead, it suggests pairing the service with an HD antenna (sold separately) to access these channels.
Sling TV is compatible with a wide array 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 offer a free trial for new subscribers. However, it does provide a free streaming service called Sling Freestream, which offers 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 plans cost $45.99 per month but feature different channel lineups tailored to various interests. For those who want everything, you can combine the Orange and Blue plans for a comprehensive 46-channel lineup, including all 22 exclusive channels, for $60.99 per month.
The Orange plan is ideal for sports fans and families, featuring channels like ESPN, Disney Channel, Cartoon Network, HGTV, Food Network, Lifetime, Nick Jr., Comedy Central, TBS, and more. It includes 35 channels, with eight exclusive to this plan, and allows streaming on one device at a time, though additional devices can be added.
The Blue plan targets pro football fans and news enthusiasts, offering 43 channels, with 16 exclusive news and entertainment channels. Highlights include CNN, Bloomberg TV, Fox (in select markets), FS1, Fox News, MSNBC, NFL Network, and more. This plan allows streaming on up to three devices simultaneously.
Can You Watch Live Sports on Sling TV?
Yes, Sling TV offers live sports viewing, though local games are not available without an HD antenna (sold separately). The channel split between the Orange and Blue plans means you'll need to choose which sports networks are most important to you.
The Orange plan includes ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3, while the Blue plan features NFL Network and FS1. You can watch a variety of live sports events, including NFL, NBA, MLB, and more. For avid sports fans, adding the sports bundle for $11-15/month (depending on your base plan) provides access to additional channels like NCAA-specific networks, NFL Redzone, MLB Network, NBA TV, NBC Golf, and the Tennis Channel. This service also allows 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 option to combine them for $60.99 per month to access all channels. Currently, there's a limited-time offer of 50% off your first month. For further savings, you can prepay for three months for as low as $99.
Additional upgrades are available to enhance your Sling TV experience. For frequent DVR users, the Unlimited Cloud DVR upgrade costs an extra $5/month and includes an Auto Record feature that saves live sports events for up to three days.
Sports enthusiasts can add a sports bundle for $11-15/month, depending on the base plan, to access more live sports. For comprehensive NFL coverage, learn how to watch NFL games online.
For more information on other streaming platforms, explore guides on 2024 Hulu Subscriptions, Netflix Plans, ESPN+ Plans, and Disney+ Plans.
