Sling TV is a popular live TV streaming service that gives subscribers the ability to personalize their television viewing experience. It offers a variety of channels ranging from sports, news, movies and children's programming. The network selection encompasses many of the most-watched TV channels in the nation, including ESPN, CNN, TBS, Food Network, and Comedy Central, among many others.
Sling TV is a great fit for those who are looking to cut the cord from the traditional cable and satellite services, but still want access to live television and a selection of on-demand content while saving some money every month. When signing up for Sling TV, new subscribers can expect an easy set-up process, a user-friendly interface, and the freedom to pick the channels and add-ons that best suit their viewing preferences.
We’ll cover the most common questions about the service, like what is Sling TV and how much does Sling TV cost. Plus, we’ll give you a deep dive into plans and channels.
Plan | Monthly Price | Channels |
Simultaneous Streams |
---|---|---|---|
Sling Orange |
$40 | 31+ |
1 |
Sling Blue |
$40 |
42+ |
3 |
Sling Orange & Blue |
$55 |
48+ |
1-3 |
Sling Orange is designed with family and sports-centric viewing in mind. This package includes popular networks such as Disney Channel, AMC, CNN and Comedy Central. A unique feature of Sling Orange is its inclusion of ESPN channels (ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN3), making it an excellent choice for sports enthusiasts.
As for sports options, Subscribers will have access to Monday Night Football, a wide variety of college sports, and other popular ESPN shows like SportsCenter. It's important to note that Sling Orange doesn't include some of the sports channels found in Sling Blue, such as NFL Network and NBC Sports Network.
Given its channel lineup and streaming limitations, Sling Orange would be best suited for individuals or households primarily interested in ESPN's sports coverage and Disney Channel's family-friendly content. If your household requires multi-stream capabilities, you might want to consider Sling Blue or the combined Sling Orange & Blue package.
This package provides a selection of channels designed with news and entertainment enthusiasts in mind. Sling Blue subscribers have access to an array of top networks, including Fox News, MSNBC, FX, Discovery and the National Geographic Channel. Notably, Sling Blue also carries regional Fox and NBC networks in a limited number of zip codes. Enter your zip code on the Sling website to see exactly which channels you’ll get.
For sports fans, Sling Blue offers channels such as NFL Network, FS1 and NBC Sports Network. It's worth noting that ESPN channels are not included in this package. Sling Blue also includes a multi-stream service, allowing up to three devices to stream simultaneously, which makes it a great option for families or households with diverse viewing habits.
Sling Blue would be best suited for viewers who are interested in a broad array of entertainment and news content, especially those who follow sports leagues broadcasted on the included networks.
Sling Orange + Blue is a combined package that essentially merges the channels and features of the standalone Sling Orange and Sling Blue packages. This plan offers roughly 50 live TV channels, which includes the popular networks from both packages.
In terms of sports offerings, the Sling Orange & Blue package is particularly robust. This ensures coverage of popular events and leagues like Monday Night Football, numerous college sports, as well as other NFL and NBA games.
One notable feature of the Sling Orange & Blue package is its mixed streaming capability. While channels from the Sling Blue package can be streamed on up to three devices simultaneously, channels from the Sling Orange package are still limited to a single stream.
The Sling Orange & Blue package is best suited for viewers who don't want to miss out on any of the exclusive channels from the standalone packages and are willing to pay just a bit more for that comprehensive access. It's a solid option for larger homes wanting to watch something different, or for individuals who want a broad spectrum of sports, news, and entertainment channels.
Sling TV offers a variety of channels across its Sling Orange, Sling Blue and Sling Orange + Blue packages. Notable networks include ESPN, Fox News, NBC, Disney Channel, CNN, Comedy Central, AMC and more. A unique aspect of Sling TV's offering is its diverse lineup of niche and international channels, with many available in add-ons. Additionally, Sling TV is one of the few services to offer A&E, History Channel and Viceland live.
Sling TV offers a variety of add-on packages to further customize your viewing experience. This is actually one of the main draws of the streaming service. These add-on packages encompass both premium channels and genre-specific mini packs.
Here's a list of some of the add-ons currently available:
Sling TV offers a discount for new customers, giving you the chance to experience the service for 50% off your first month. This deal allows you to explore the service, try out the channels in your selected package, and see how well Sling TV fits your viewing preferences and lifestyle.
In addition to the discount, Sling TV will sometimes have a free trial or other deals for new customers featured on the website. The current promotional offer is $40 off your first 4 months ($10 per month) when you prepay. Deals like this make it even more affordable to give Sling TV a try and can be a great way to transition from a traditional cable service to a more flexible and personalized streaming option. Please note that Sling pricing and deals change often, so it's always a good idea to check the latest deals on the Sling TV website.
To watch Sling TV, you first need to sign up for the service on the Sling TV website. The signup process involves creating an account, selecting your desired package, and adding any additional add-ons, international channels, or bundles you're interested in.
After completing the signup process, you can watch Sling TV on a variety of devices. Sling TV supports a wide range of platforms, including smart TVs, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Xbox and Android or iOS devices. You can also watch Sling TV on your computer via the Sling TV website.
Whether Sling TV is worth it largely depends on your personal viewing habits and needs. One of the major advantages of Sling TV is its flexibility. The service allows you to customize your channel lineup to fit your preferences, which can be a refreshing change from traditional cable packages. It also supports a wide range of devices and offers some ability to watch programming on demand.
However, there are also downsides to consider. The single-stream limitation on the Sling Orange package can be a significant constraint for households where multiple people want to watch different channels at the same time. Also, while Sling TV's a la carte approach can be beneficial for some, it can quickly become expensive if you want a broad selection of channels, as each additional bundle or premium channel adds to the total monthly cost.
In general, Sling TV is likely to be worth it for viewers who are looking for a more personalized, flexible alternative to cable TV, especially those who only watch certain channels or types of programming. However, for those who want a large number of channels or need to accommodate multiple viewers with different preferences, a different streaming service might be a more cost-effective choice.
Sling TV does not offer annual plans, instead operating on a month-to-month subscription basis.
Determining whether Sling Orange or Sling Blue is better largely depends on your individual viewing preferences. Sling Orange is typically better for ESPN sports fans and Disney Channel viewers, while Sling Blue is ideal for those interested in a broader array of channels and the ability to stream on multiple devices simultaneously.
Yes, you can watch some regional sports networks with Sling TV, but the selection is extremely limited. In a select number of areas, Sling TV offers access to NBC Sports Bay Area, California and Washington with its Sling Blue package. However, it does not provide regional Fox Sports channels, Bally Sports regional sports channels, the AT&T regional sports nets or the NBC Sports regionals. For RSNs, you’re better with DIRECTV STREAM or Fubo.