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 industry since its launch in 2015 as the first service to offer live TV streaming. It presents itself as a cost-effective alternative to traditional cable subscriptions, offering a range 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, you'll find a detailed overview of what Sling TV offers, including its channel lineup, sports coverage such as MLB games, and pricing details.

What Is Sling TV?

Sling TV

250% off your first month!
$45.99 save 50%
$23.00 at Sling TV

Sling TV is a subscription-based live TV streaming service that delivers a variety of popular channels, live sports, news, and more without any long-term commitments. It's a favorite among cord-cutters for its affordability compared to larger competitors like YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV. The service offers various plans tailored to different viewer interests, moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach. Every plan comes with 50 hours of DVR storage, allowing you to record live TV and watch your favorite shows and movies at your convenience.

A key distinction (and a major factor in its lower pricing) is the absence of local channels such as ABC, CBS, and NBC. Sling TV suggests supplementing your subscription with an HD antenna (sold separately) to access local programming.

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?

Sling TV Freestream

16See it at Sling TV

Unlike other live TV streaming services such as Fubo, Sling TV does not provide a free trial for new subscribers. However, they do offer a 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 main plans: Orange and Blue, both priced at $45.99 per month, but with different channel selections tailored to various interests. For those wanting a comprehensive package, combining the Orange and Blue plans provides access to all 46 channels (including 22 exclusive channels) for $60.99 per month.

The Orange plan is ideal 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 35 channels, 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 pro football fans and news aficionados, offering 43 channels, with 16 exclusive news and entertainment channels. Notable inclusions are 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 enables you to enjoy live sports, although 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, whereas the Blue plan offers NFL Network and FS1 instead. You can watch various live sporting events, including NFL, NBA, MLB, and more. For dedicated sports fans, adding the sports bundle to your subscription grants access to additional channels like NCAA networks, NFL Redzone, MLB Network, NBA TV, NBC Golf, and the Tennis Channel. This also means you can catch March Madness games through Sling TV.

How Much Does Sling TV Cost?

As mentioned earlier, the Orange or Blue plans are priced at $45.99 per month, with the combined plan costing $60.99 per month. There's a special limited-time offer that gives you 50% off your first month. For even greater savings, you can prepay for three months of service for as low as $99.

You can enhance your Sling TV experience with add-ons. For instance, the Unlimited Cloud DVR upgrade costs an extra $5 per month and allows you to save live sports events for up to three days with its Auto Record feature. Sports enthusiasts can also add a sports bundle for $11-15 per month (depending on your base plan) to access more live sports coverage. For those interested in NFL games, here's how to watch NFL games online.

For more information on streaming platforms, explore guides on 2024 Hulu Subscriptions, Netflix Plans, ESPN+ Plans, and Disney+ Plans.