Although it may not be as well-known as giants like 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, making it a pioneering choice for cord-cutters. Today, it remains a compelling alternative to traditional cable subscriptions, offering an array of popular channels, a DVR service, and the flexibility to watch on up to three devices simultaneously, whether at home or on the go. Below is a comprehensive guide to Sling TV, detailing its channel offerings, sports coverage including MLB games, and monthly costs.
What Is Sling TV?
### Sling TV
250% off your first month!$45.99 save 50%$23.00 at Sling TVSling TV is a subscription-based live TV streaming service that offers a wide range of popular channels, live sports, news, and more, without the need for a long-term commitment. It's an attractive option for those looking to cut the cord, as it's more budget-friendly than competitors like YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV. Sling TV's unique selling point is its customizable plans that cater to specific viewer interests, rather than a generic content package. Each plan comes with 50 hours of DVR storage, enabling you to record live TV and watch your favorite shows and movies at your convenience.
A key distinction—and a major reason for its lower cost—is that Sling TV does not include local channels such as ABC, CBS, and NBC. To access these, Sling recommends pairing your subscription with an HD antenna, which is sold separately.
Sling TV is compatible with a vast 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?
### Sling TV Freestream
16See it at Sling TVUnlike many other live TV streaming services, such as Fubo, Sling TV does not offer a free trial for new subscribers. However, Sling does provide a related free streaming service called Sling Freestream, which offers a plethora of free channels and ad-supported content at no cost to you.
What Channels Does Sling TV Include?
Sling TV offers two primary plans: Orange and Blue, both priced at $45.99 per month, but with different channel lineups tailored to different viewer preferences. For those who want the full experience, combining the Orange and Blue plans gives you access to all 46 channels, including 22 exclusive channels, for a combined rate of $60.99 per month.
The Orange plan is designed for sports enthusiasts and families, featuring channels like ESPN, Disney Channel, Cartoon Network, HGTV, Food Network, Lifetime, Nick Jr., Comedy Central, TBS, and more. It includes a total of 35 channels, with eight exclusive to this plan, and allows streaming on one device at a time, with the option to add more.
The Blue plan, on the other hand, caters to football fans 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, NFL Network, and more. This plan allows streaming on up to three devices simultaneously.
Can You Watch Live Sports on Sling TV?
Yes, you can watch live sports on Sling TV, although local games typically require an HD antenna, which is sold separately. Given that Sling's channels are split between the Orange and Blue plans, 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 enjoy a variety of live sports events, including NFL, NBA, MLB, and more, across these channels. For avid sports fans, adding Sling's sports bundle can enhance your viewing options, providing access to additional channels like NCAA-specific networks, NFL Redzone, MLB Network, NBA TV, NBC Golf, and the Tennis Channel. This also means you can watch March Madness games with this service.
How Much Does Sling TV Cost?
As mentioned, Sling TV offers its Orange or Blue plans for $45.99 per month, or you can combine them for all channels at $60.99 per month. There's a limited-time deal that offers 50% off your first month. For additional savings, you can prepay for three months of Sling TV for as low as $99.
You can further customize your Sling TV subscription with additional upgrades. For those who frequently record live TV, upgrading to Sling's Unlimited Cloud DVR for an extra $5 per month allows you to save live sports events for up to three days using the Auto Record feature. Sports fans can also add a sports bundle for $11-15 per month (depending on your base plan) to access even more live sports content. If you're particularly interested in NFL games, here's how to watch NFL games online.
For more information on other streaming platforms, check out guides on 2024 Hulu Subscriptions, Netflix Plans, ESPN+ Plans, and Disney+ Plans.
