What Channels Come With A Sling TV Package
Were going to need your full attention for a moment, because Sling TVs packages are pretty confusing.
As mentioned earlier in the story, Sling TV has three basic live TV streaming packages: Sling Orange, Sling Blue and Sling Orange + Blue.
Sling Blue and Sling Orange are each $35 per month packages, but they offer different selections of channels.
The line in the sand appears to be the ESPN family of networks. Sling Orange has them, and Sling Blue does not. Since ESPN channels are expensive for the streaming providers, the Orange package has an otherwise stripped-down menu.
Sling Blue doesnt offer ESPN channels, but it offers more channel options for the same price. Instead of ESPN, youre able to get channels such as FOX News, MSNBC, Discovery, Bravo and your local NBC or FOX affiliates.
For an additional $15 per month, you can skip the comparison between Orange and Blue. Sling Orange + Blue is $50 per month and offers all of the channels of both $35 packages.
When looking at the channel menu below, you may notice that only NBC and FOX affiliates are offered with the Blue and Orange + Blue packages. That means youre completely out of luck if you want to watch your local ABC and CBS channels with Sling. If youre looking for access to local channels, we have some ideas that wont break the bank.
- IFC Films Unlimited
What About Local Channels?
As I previously mentioned, only select NBC and FOX affiliates are included with your Sling TV subscription.
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Sling TV Packages: How Much Does Sling TV Cost And More
In the olden days of TV, it was possible to have access to basically everything that was on. There used to be just a few networks, and up until fairly recently, if you were willing to pay enough, you could still get access to all the premium content you wanted through a single cable package. Now, in the era of streaming, theres no central way to get access to everything on TV. Even if there were, it would likely be insanely expensive.
Now that virtually every major brand has a streaming service, you have to decide which services are worth investing in. Preferences are going to differ, but its important to know what options are out there, and how they differ from one another. If you , for example, its almost a halfway point between a traditional cable package and a streaming service like Netflix or . The service provides users with live TV, and it also has a number of movies and TV shows available to watch on demand.
Is Sling TV Worth It
If you like having a lot of channels and enjoy channel surfing, you’re probably better off with cable or satellite TV. But if Sling TV’s basic package or add-on packs have most of the kind of programming you like, it could be a better deal.
You can also supplement Sling’s programming with other online services, such as Amazon Prime , Crackle , Hulu and Netflix .So think about what you like to watch, and add up how much it will cost with Sling TV and other streaming services compared with cable or satellite TV. Sling TV offers a free seven-day trial, so you can find out firsthand how you like it.
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How Much Does Sling Cost Now
For those who don’t know, Sling offers two different packages: Sling Blue and Sling Orange.
Each package offers a different selection of channels. For example, channels such as ESPN and Disney are only available on Orange, whereas FOX News, MSNBC, and NFL Network are only on Blue. You can buy the two packages in a bundle if you want access to everything.
Prior to the Sling price hike in January 2021, both services cost $30. They are now $35. The bundled package has also gone up by $5 . The sports add-on has gone up from $10 to $11, and all other add-ons have risen from $5 to $6.
New subscribers will have to pay the new rates immediately existing users will get a grace period until July 2021 due to Sling’s one-year price guarantee.
Slings Dvr Storage Space Is Somewhat Average
Earlier this year, Sling TV increased its DVR storage space and increased its monthly price by $5 because of it. We’re here to say it was worth it.
Sling TV used to come with a free 10-hour Cloud DVR storage . Now, Sling TV comes with a 50-hour DVR storage.
If that’s not enough for you and the five family members you live with, Sling TVs Cloud DVR Plus is an extra $5 per month for 200 hours of recording space. Your recordings will save indefinitely, so you wont have to worry about last years recording of 30 for 30 disappearing.
Also, when you hit the record button on a TV show, a pop-up will ask you if you want to record all episodes, only record new episodes, or record this episode only. This saves you the hassle from going through and clicking record on every episode.
But keep in mind: if you go over your 50-hour storage space, it will automatically delete recordings youve already watched and then your oldest recordings.
For some families, 50 hours is enough. This means you can record about 50 TV episodes or 20 movies.
If you want to record TV shows and movies and save them for years so you can watch them whenever you’d like, you might find yourself upgrading to 200 hours of DVR storage space in the long run.
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Which Service Has A Bigger On
Most live TV streaming services offer on-demand content from the channels in their lineups. If you see a TV show or movie in a channels programming lineup, you can probably watch it on-demand for some time after it airs. Both Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV offer such on-demand content. If there is a particular entertainment channel that you enjoy watching that is only available on one of these services, you should choose that service.
Hulu + Live TV has a huge advantage over Sling TV in that a subscription includes access to its extensive on-demand library of movies, TV shows, and original productions. At the time of publishing Hulus on-demand library of shows includes animations , comedies , dramas . FX shows on Hulu also get a special hub.
Some of Hulus original shows, such as Castle Rock, Casual, Catch-22, Harlots, Ramy, The Handmaids Tale, and the Veronica Mars reboot, are worth a watch, too. Just don’t expect the same number of quality options as you get with Netflix or Prime Video.
Winner: Hulu + Live TV
What Equipment Do I Need To Get Started
One of the biggest perks of cutting the cord and using a service like Sling TV is the variety of ways in which you can enjoy the content.
Not only can you move seamlessly from device to device, but you can also take your recorded content with you thanks to the portability of the cloud DVR.
You can watch Sling TV on your phone, tablet or computer. In fact, Sling recently launched a new version of its app that includes some cool new features like browsing whats playing on all other channels while still watching a channel.
Many of us still like to enjoy entertainment on a television from the comfort of our couches. Sling TV has you covered in that area, too. Most of the most popular streaming devices, including Roku and Amazon Fire TV, are compatible.
The streaming services list of supported devices for TV includes:
- TiVo Stream 4K
- Xbox One and Xbox Series X
This is probably a good time to mention that Sling likes to run promotions for new customers that sometimes can net you a free streaming device for your television.
For example, heres a limited-time promotion offered recently to new users willing to prepay for two months of service:
One final thing to consider in the equipment arena is how important local channels are to you.
If you need to see all of them as a Sling subscriber, you may also need to invest in an antenna to account for the channels that Sling does not provide. Remember, Sling provides access only to select NBC and FOX affiliates on some of its packages.
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What Equipment Do I Need For Sling
You dont need a lot of equipment to use Sling . In fact you dont even need a TV to watch Sling because you can do do on your phone, computer or tablet. That said, since most of us still get our content from our TV sets heres exactly what you need to watch Sling on your television.
To watch Sling TV on your television you only need:
- A television
- An internet connection
- A streaming media player or Smart TV
Sling TV will work on both wired and wireless internet but it is recommended to use a wired connection whenever possible to ensure maximum data speed. If thats not an option dont worry it should still work if your connection is strong enough.
Sling also recommends an internet speed of 25mbps or higher to use their services. If you have less than that it may still work, but you may have some technical issues like pausing, slow loading or buffering. There are a number of websites that will check your data speed, I use Fast.com but any of them should be fine.
Once your internet connection is established all you need to do is connect your streaming media player to your TV by following your devices instructions and then download the Sling app if its not already on there and log in.
Devices That Support Sling TV:
- iOS Devices
- Android Devices
- Apple TV
- LG Smart TVs
Hulu Is Better Overall Sling TV Offers More Add
Cord cutters must consider which aspects of live TV streaming services are most important to them before making a decision. For most people, Hulu + Live TV is a better option than Sling TV because of its superior channel lineup, technical capabilities, and on-demand library. Although Sling TV beats Hulu on price and offers more channel add-ons, the costs of those extras add up quickly and could potentially eat away at Sling’s pricing advantage.
If you are determined to save as much money as possible, Slings Blue or Orange plans might be a better option, though you have to be careful to check that your plan of choice has all the channels you want to watch. Philo and Locast are other cheap live TV options. If money is less of an object, check out our comparison between Hulu and YouTube TV.
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Sling TV Channels And Add
Sling TV offers many of the popular channels you will find with other live-streaming services. You can watch your favorite shows and movies on AMC, watch Monday Night Football on ESPN, catch your beloved home-improvement shows on HGTV, and stay informed with news channels like CNN.
Moreover, Sling TV offers many add-ons to enhance your viewing experience. You can receive access to premium shows and movies on Showtime for $10 per month, Starz for $9 per month, and Epix for $5. The only drawbacks are Sling TV does not offer HBO or Cinemax at this time.
However, there are a plethora of other entertainment choices available. Sling TV offers entertainment bundles ranging from sports to kids programs to news to international packages. You can view the full list of Sling TV’s entertainment bundles on its website.
Along with entertainment packages, you also can enhance your recording space. Each Sling TV package comes with 50 hours of DVR. It is a great starting point, but it might not accommodate all needs. In this case, you can upgrade to DVR Plus. With DVR Plus, you receive up to 200 hours of recording space for an extra $5 per month.
An Updated Interface Is In On The Way With Key Improvements
Sling TV is set to launch a number of changes to its app soon. The streaming service announced a beta app in May 2021. The updated app first became available on select Fire TV devices and features a new home page and a vertical sidebar with a DVR tab. It will be added to more devices throughout 2021, according to a press release.
We got to try the new app with a Fire TV Stick 4K and it’s a clear improvement. The home screen now includes a number of title recommendations based on shows and movies you’ve watched.
Additionally, Sling TV‘s channel guide which you can find on the app’s sidebar now lets you surf dozens of channels just like a traditional cable plan. You can also choose to record shows as you navigate through the guide.
You can scroll between tabs like “Favorites” and “Recents” on the top of the guide to find certain channels easier. While there still aren’t numbers associated with channels, you can easily find what you’re looking for with other tabs like “A-Z,” “Sports,” “News,” “Movies,” and more.
Aside from the guide, each channel has “Info” and “Explore” options. The “Info” option lets you see on-demand content and programs set to air on a channel in the future. Meanwhile, the “Explore” option lets you navigate all upcoming shows and movies.
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What Is Amc Premiere Membership
AMC Premiere is a premium streaming service for AMC shows that allows you to watch your favorite movies and shows without commercial breaks. One of the main strengths of this premium AMC subscription is that it gives you same-day access or sometimes a preview of the latest episodes of the TV series currently on the air.
What Does The Amc Channel Stand For
AMC AMC is an American cable and satellite television company. The channel is owned by AMC Networks and broadcasts television programs and movies. AMC stands for American Movie Classics, on which the channel was founded. It is currently called AMC due to the fact that it mainly moves from movies to TV shows.
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Sling Orange Vs Sling Blue
Sling TVs Orange vs Blue packages can be a bit confusing, especially given their vague naming convention, but well try to make their plans a bit easier to understand.
The Sling Orange and Blue packages offer many of the same channels, but each also offers exclusive access to channels not available with the other plan. Each package also has limitations on how many devices can stream at one time.
Sling TV Review Summary:
- Sling TV has three packages: Orange , Blue and Orange + Blue
- Sling Orange includes ESPN and Disney Channel, while Blue has FOX, NBC and Discovery
- ABC and CBS arent available in any of Slings plans
- More customizable add-ons than any other service
- Includes 10 hours of DVR storage for free, can upgrade to 50 hours for $5/mo.
- No free trial, just $10 off first month
Starting price: $30/mo.
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How Do Sling TV Packages Compare To Hulu
Both Hulu and Sling TV have a plethora of live programming at relatively low costs, with Sling Orange providing access to over thirty channels for the very tempting price of $35 a month. Hulu with Live TVs core package is $64.99, but offers more than twice the number of networks. However, Sling will give you more bang for your buck if you decide to purchase their Sling Orange + Blue plan at $50, with a bountiful 53 channels.
Its a close-run thing. Sling TV surpasses Hulu with its affordability, a la carte flexibility and potential selection of 200 channels in comparison to a little over 100. But, if your wallet can take the extra strain, Hulu narrowly wins as far as value for money is concerned, having thousands of hit OD movies, and Hulu Originals like Nine Perfect Strangers and anthology series American Horror Stories, in addition to live TV functionality. You can read more about Hulus prices and subscription packages for further information.
How To Watch Sling TV From Outside The Us
As Sling TV is only available for those in the US and Puerto Rico, this means all of its content is geo-locked and you’ll be unable to load the website or the app when outside of the country.
If you happen to be abroad and want to watch something on Sling TV, though, all is not lost. With a VPN, you can bypass geo-restrictions. Simply hop onto a server within the US, which will then change your device’s IP address and unblock Sling TV and other streaming service platforms to use as if you were right at home.
Our top recommended provider is ExpressVPN. It’s fast, secure and ridiculously easy to install and use. Plus, you can use it for 30 days risk-free to give it a try, and get your money back in full if you decide you no longer want it.
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