What is Sling TV? Plans, cost, everything you need to know

Sling TV is one of the most cost-conscious streaming services, providing three plans for its base Sling TV channels. Its packages start at $35 a month, for either Sling Blue or Sling Orange. A merged Sling TV plan, Orange + Blue, costs $50 a month. Sling TV also has a robust international package, featuring channels from around the globe, organized by language.

Want to learn more about Sling TV? Here’s what we’ll cover:

What is Sling TV?

Sling TV packages each offer their own selling points. Here are the basics of what each plan offers in the way of channels and cost.

Sling TV is billed as an à la carte streaming service, allowing you to pick and choose the Sling TV channels you really want to see. While the packages might not be as robust as you’ll find with some other streaming service packages, you’ll also see low prices and big value for what it does have.

There are some hard choices you might make in selecting your Sling TV package. Should you opt for Sling Orange, with the Disney Channel and ESPN channels, or Sling Blue, which has more channels overall? You can, however, “why not both” it and still come in at a price that beats its closest rivals.

Orange	$35
Blue	$35
Orange + Blue	$50

Sling TV Streaming Devices

Sling TV works on virtually every major streaming platform out there. Those include: 

DVR and multiple screens

Sling TV membership comes with 50 hours of free cloud DVR storage, through its aptly-named DVR Free package. For an extra $5 per month, you can expand your cloud DVR to 200 hours with Sling’s DVR Plus package. There’s one minor caveat: Sling DVR doesn’t work for SEC Network+, Local Now, ACC Network Extra, or ESPN3.

If you plan to stream multiple devices, know that Sling Orange subscribers can watch their content on three devices at a time, but with Sling Blue, you can only use one device at a time. If you sign up for Sling Blue + Orange, you get access in the way that you would with each individual package. So, if you’re viewing a channel on a Sling Orange package like Disney Channel and ESPN, you can view it on one screen, whereas if it’s a Sling Blue channel like FS1 or USA, you can view it on three screens.

On-demand and offline content

Sling TV’s on-demand options are on par with those of every other major streaming TV service. Programs become available the day after they air and can usually be streamed for about a month. One nice added bonus of Sling TV is the ability to rewind and fast forward through on-demand programming. 

One thing you won’t be able to do with Sling is access content offline. Sling TV is strictly a streaming service, so you’ll need an internet connection to watch.

Local channels

One of the rumors floating around about Sling is that it doesn’t have the local channel choice that other services have. Sling has two solutions available for customers who want local channels.

One solution, available to 55 percent of U.S. viewers (and growing), is Locast — a donation-fueled service that integrates with Sling. You’ll not only get your local channels; you’ll get them integrated into Sling’s channel guide when you’re ready to watch. You won’t, however, be able to DVR Locast-delivered content, so you’ll have to plan to watch those shows live.

The other option is AirTV, which allows you to stream your local channels to your TV once you purchase an AirTV device. AirTV allows local channels to show on your Sling interface, so you can toggle between your Sling subscription and your over-the-air channels.

Sling TV vs. The Competition

Sling TV vs. Hulu Live TV

Where there are a few different routes for arriving at your Sling TV channels, Hulu Live TV banks on a single simple plan. For $64.99 per month (or $70.99 a month for an ad-free experience), Hulu Live TV provides users more than 75 of the top channels on TV and access to Hulu’s massive streaming service. Effectively, this gives Hulu Live TV the biggest on-demand section of any streaming TV service. That being said, not everyone wants to be paying $64.99 per month for TV. Unless you need a big TV package, Sling TV’s baseline cost is hard to beat. Even if you splurge for Sling Orange + Blue, you’ll be paying about $15-20 less per month for close to the same amount of channels. You just won’t get a free Hulu membership. 

Sling TV vs. DirecTV Stream

DirecTV Stream (the streaming service formerly known as AT&T TV Now) is the closest experience you can have to cable without actually subscribing to cable, which includes some massive channel packages. But if you’re trying to get away from the complexity of cable and its plans, Sling is more streamlined and also less expensive. DirecTV Stream has “simplified” to just four plans from its former seven, but the least expensive one is almost $70 and HBO Max isn’t included with it – a perk that it offered for some of its lower-tier plans.

Sling TV vs. FuboTV

The question of which service to choose between Sling TV and FuboTV ultimately comes down to channels and cost. FuboTV offers more than 100 channels for $64.99. You get 500 hours of cloud DVR, 130+ 4K sporting event streams a year, and more with your membership. But Sling TV starts at $35 and has a local channel solution. If you’re trying to save money, Sling TV is great, but FuboTV edges it out by offering significantly more channels, more DVR space, and 4K sporting events. 

Sling TV vs. YouTube TV 

Sling TV is a great service for when you want to stream TV on a budget, but it has some issues stacking up when money isn’t an issue. For $64.99 per month, YouTube TV subscribers get 70+ channels, including local channels. That includes unlimited cloud DVR for each individual member of your family. If money is no object, you may want to consider springing for YouTube TV. 

Is it worth it?

Sling TV is an incredible service. While there are cheaper options out there like Philo, Sling TV is the cheapest way to watch streaming TV that gives you major news, sports, and entertainment options for as little as $35. We like the app and it’s easy to use.

There are a few cons to go along with all the pros. The free DVR option provides just 50 hours, and while $5 a month for 200 hours is reasonable, other services offer more robust library-building Though some customers will love the customization possible through Sling, others may find it frustrating and even confusing to work through the multiple Orange vs. Blue extra packages. If you’re looking for a simple, affordable, and feature-packed streaming TV experience and don’t mind spending extra, there may better options out there for you.

For many families, though, the service is going to be exactly what they need, a perfect middle ground between over-the-air TV and cable. 

How to sign up for Sling TV

Signing up is as simple as creating an account, picking your package, and entering your payment information. Even better, you can sign up for Sling TV even if you don’t have a computer.

Signing up online

For most people, the easiest way to sign up for the service is to go to www.sling.com and hit the Start Watching button. Here’s what you do.

1. Enter your email address and desired password.
2. Select the channel package you want and then scroll down the page. Here you’ll find Sling TV’s extras, from added channels to bonus DVR space. Pick the add-ons that you want then scroll to the bottom of the page, and select “Continue.”
3. Enter your billing information and hit “Finish & Submit.” The app will let you know exactly when your next bill will hit, and how much it will be for, and will walk you through your contract before you’re done.

Signing up on Roku

Roku makes it easy to signup for Sling TV right from your streaming device. Here’s how it works.

1. Download the Sling TV app on your Roku.
2. When you launch the app you’ll see a notice offering three days of free service for new subscribers. Select this button.
3. Enter the email and password you’d like to use for your Sling TV subscription.
4. On the next page, you’ll select your services. Choose between Sling Blue, Sling Orange, or Sling Orange + Blue, and then move on to the extras section. 
5. To add an option to your subscription, hit the Add button next to your selections. 
6. Once you have your package sorted out select “Finish & Submit.” Your Sling TV subscription will be charged to the card on file with your Roku account once your free trial is finished.

Signing up on Amazon Fire

Much like Roku, users can sign up from within the Amazon Fire app. Here’s how.

1. Download the Sling TV app to your Amazon Fire device. Upon launch, select the “Sign Up” button.
2. On Fire, your first order of business is to select your channel package; Sling Orange, Sling Blue, or Sling Orange + Blue. If you’d like to add more in-language options, such as Spanish language channels, select the “View More Languages” option on this screen. Otherwise, when you’ve got your package picked out, select “Continue.”
3. On the next page, you’ll add on your Extra features. Select your favorite add-ons and then hit “Continue.”
4. Now create an account for Sling TV. Enter your email and desired password, then hit “Continue.”
5. Review your channel package and hit “Finish & Submit.”
6. At this point, Amazon will ask to give Sling permission to use your zip code. This is used to figure out what local channels you’ll get. Hit “I agree” to move on. 
7. Sling will ask you if you’d like to set Parental Controls. If so, hit “Enable;” otherwise, select “No Thanks” to move on. 
8. Now Sling will ask you to confirm your subscriptions. It will ask you to confirm each extra service you added during sign-up.
9. Finally, enter your Amazon password to authenticate the transaction. You’re now ready to watch on your Amazon Fire device.

Signing up on Android TV, Android, LG TV, Windows 10, or Xbox One

Signing up here is the same on Android TV, Android, LG TV, Windows 10, and Xbox One devices. Here are the steps you’ll take. 

1. Download the Sling TV app to your device and open it. On the start-up page, select the “Sign Up” option.
2. First select your base package, Sling Orange, Sling Blue, or Sling Orange + Blue, then hit “Continue.”
3. On the next page, you’ll find Sling TV’s extra services. Click “Add” on the options you’d like to add to your subscription. Then select continue.
4. Now you’ll make your account. Enter the email and password you’d like associated with your Sling TV account and hit continue.
5. Enter your billing and payment information then hit “Finish & Submit.” You’re now ready to start streaming Sling TV.

Sling Orange	$35
Sling Blue	$35
Sling Orange & Blue	$50

For a more à la carte service, look to Sling TV. It offers two cable packages, Sling Orange and Sling Blue, each of which costs $35 per month. If you grab them both (Sling Orange + Blue) you can save $10 per month. Sling Blue offers more bang for your buck with over 40 channels, including sports necessities like FS1, NBCSN, and NFL Network. You’ll also gain access to the usual cable mainstays like Food Network, Discovery, Cartoon Network, SYFY, and FXX. Whichever package you choose, you can save $10 on your first month. Here’s the complete guide to Sling TV channels.

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