While 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 a cost-effective alternative to traditional cable subscriptions. Sling TV provides subscribers with a diverse array of popular channels, a DVR service, and the flexibility to watch content at home or on the go on up to three devices. Dive into the comprehensive guide below to discover everything 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 service that offers a variety of popular channels, live sports, news, and more, without requiring a long-term commitment. It's an attractive option for cord cutters looking for a more budget-friendly alternative to pricier services like YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV. Sling TV distinguishes itself with tailored plans that cater to specific viewer interests rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. All plans come with 50 hours of DVR, allowing you to record and watch your favorite shows and movies at your convenience.
A key differentiator—and a reason for its lower cost—is that Sling TV does not include local channels like ABC, CBS, and NBC. Instead, they recommend pairing your subscription 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 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, they do 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 main plans: Orange and Blue, both priced at $45.99 per month but featuring different channel lineups to suit various interests. You can also combine both 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. This plan includes 35 channels, with eight exclusive to Orange, and allows streaming on one device at a time, with the option to add more.
The Blue plan caters to pro football enthusiasts and news aficionados, offering 43 channels, including 16 exclusive news and entertainment channels. Highlights include CNN, Bloomberg TV, Fox (in select markets), FS1, Fox News, MSNBC, and NFL Network. This plan supports streaming on up to three devices simultaneously.
Can You Watch Live Sports on Sling TV?
Yes, Sling TV offers live sports viewing, though most local games require an additional HD antenna (sold separately). The service's channels are divided between the Orange and Blue plans, so you'll need to choose based on your preferred sports networks.
The Orange plan includes ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3, while the Blue plan focuses on NFL Network and FS1. You can watch various live sporting events, including NFL, NBA, MLB, and more. For avid sports fans, adding Sling's sports bundle for additional channels like NCAA-specific networks, NFL Redzone, MLB Network, NBA TV, NBC Golf, and the Tennis Channel is advisable.
This service also allows you to watch March Madness games.
How Much Does Sling TV Cost?
Sling TV's Orange and Blue plans are priced at $45.99 per month each, with the option to combine them for $60.99 per month to access all channels. Currently, they offer a limited-time deal of 50% off your first month. For additional savings, you can prepay for three months for as low as $99.
You can enhance your Sling TV subscription with upgrades like the Unlimited Cloud DVR for an additional $5/month, which includes an Auto Record feature to save live sporting events for up to three days.
Sports enthusiasts can also add a sports bundle for $11-15/month, depending on your base plan, to access more live sports channels. If you're keen on catching NFL games, explore our guide on how to watch NFL games online.
For more streaming platform guides, check out our 2024 Hulu Subscriptions, Netflix Plans, ESPN+ Plans, and Disney+ Plans.
