sling.com
Sling TV is a live streaming television service that was introduced to the world in early 2017. With its skinny bundle, Sling TV has already garnered over 2.4 million subscribers with most of them streaming from America. What makes this live streaming service successful is its affordable plans along with a vast content library that includes both current and past seasons of popular shows and its ability to allow you to watch content from anywhere and on any device. Sling TV has already become one of the most popular live TV streaming services in the USA, with no signs of slowing down.
Since its introduction in 2014, Sling TV has proved to be an amazing alternative for viewers looking to cut the cords. With this service, you can have a compact TV viewing experience with channels that matter. As a result of this, you don't have to pay costly bills or rack up expensive equipment that clutters the space under your TV. You can live stream from any device and at an affordable price.
Many streaming platforms have arisen in an attempt to compete with Sling TV. These include DirecTV Now, PlayStation Vue, and even YouTubeTV. The only aspect which differentiates Sling TV from most of these service providers is that it is the cheapest as compared to most of these channels.
Is Sling TV and Slingbox the same?
There's no doubt that Sling TV has evolved from Slingbox. However, Sling TV is in its own league when it comes to cord-cutting alternatives. Through this service, the brand is catering to the entire US audience, allowing them to watch the majority of the basic channels without the need for pesky equipment in the living room or on the roof.
Sling TV is not rigid in its operation. Apart from the basic channels available in the package, you can add additional content for an extra fee. For instance, you can pay $4.99 and add six channels of your choice. If you are looking for premium content, you can also add HBO, EPIX, and STARZ for just a few additional dollars a month.
Sling TV, a streaming service similar to Prime Video and Netflix, relies on the internet connection for functioning. You will need a compatible player such as Xbox One, Roku or Android device in order to watch.
History
Sling TV was unveiled on January 5, 2015 in Las Vegas by Dish Network. It is an American over-the-top internet television service which complements subscription VOD services for cord-cutters. Today, you can stream content on Sling TV through digital media players, smart TVs, and apps from anywhere you want.
Design
I found the Sling TV interface confusing at first, but it worked fine. I had to spend some time getting used to it, but my first impression was that it didn't have the most intuitive interface. The standard color tone found across most of the well-known streaming service websites is used in the Grey, Black, and White text combination.
I think Sling TV's ability to save shows and channels and mark your favorite one is an aspect I like the most. It's pretty standard across all major streaming networks.
The orange lines underneath the videos indicate the viewing progress. We saw the same thing on Hotstar, where there is a green line. These small details count a lot and help you to continue from your left off.
While it's true that the Sling interface is not extremely appealing or intuitive, it does get the job done. If you're used to flipping channels, you won't be pleased as there's no surfing option in Sling. The homepage is set up in a horizontal mosaic window format which starts with your favorite channels. The display is optimized on most of the devices and thus you can see anywhere between three to five channels on your screen at a time. But you will need to side scroll a lot.
In 2019, viewers prefer back and forth toggle as compared to searching, sorting, and horizontal scrolling.
Content
The only real difference is the amount of add-ons that are available.
Sling TV offers a sleek content package with an impressive content library. Though the content library isn't as expansive as many leading streaming services it's still impressive. As far as the content goes, there are two plans - Orange and Blue Plan. Both of these plans have similar base channels. The only real difference is the amount of add-ons that are available.
You can get many channels, such as ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, TBS, TNT, DIY Network, Food Network, HGTV, CNN, Travel Channel, ABC Family, Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, IFC, AMC, History Channel and Bloomberg TV.
Sling Blue does not include Disney owned channels, while Sling Orange does.
On-Demand content is a USP
Apart from the Live TV channels mentioned above, you can also choose from an extensive on-demand content library that you would only find on Sling. I was thrilled to find some of the titles of Sling, these include the entire collection of ?Billions?, ?Real Housewives?, ?Good Eats? and the latest season of ?It?s Always Sunny in Philadelphia?.
If you don't like the base package of channels that your TV comes with, you can add additional channels at just $5/month. These add-ons can range from kids' channels to movie channels to sports channels - just the kind of thing you might want.
Desktop/Mobile experience
Sling TV and Slingbox are two different services with different features. With Sling TV, you can pause, rewind, and fast-forward live TV on channels. You can also watch shows just a few days after they have premiered. Sling TV can be streamed from numerous devices which include mobile devices. If you have an internet speed of 1.5Mbps, you'll be able to achieve decent quality streams.
I don't like how the experience is different when casting from a smaller screen to a bigger one. The stream quality can fluctuate drastically depending on the device you're using. For instance, my iPhone SE handled the stream fine, but casting it through Chromecast changed it a lot. There's an instant drop in video and audio quality.
The search experience is frustrating. Regardless of your device, if you do a search query, you'll get results that don't make much sense. For instance, try searching "Game of Thrones," and you'd find random results featuring the GOT segment, behind the scenes, etc. The only thing you won't find is the show itself - which is very frustrating.
Compatibility is not a problem
You can access Sling TV by creating an account on Dish's website. Once you have logged in, you can watch content on your device of choice- including live streaming on Korean devices! Thanks to a partnership between LG and Dish, you can also stream Sling TV content on webOS smart TVs, Vizio SmartCast TVs, and Samsung Smart TVs.
Plans & Pricing
If you're new to cord-cutting, you might find Sling TV's packages confusing. So, let's clarify that first. There are two packages - Sling Orange and Sling Blue. If you're looking for an individual plan which caters to your needs, then you should go for the Sling Orange Plan. If you want to share it with your family, then you should pick Blue.
Each of the two plans costs $25/month. For the first month, you are required to pay just $15/month as an introductory discount. Both of these channels have a difference in a few areas. If you want an all-inclusive package, you can combine the two packages and get a multiservice discount. If you opt for that option, you will get two-months of viewing at just $25/month. After two months, it will cost $40 per month.
Suggestions I have for Sling TV
I've been using Sling TV for over two years and its better over time. I started with the Orange package and later switched to Sling Blue because I felt that Orange wasn't meeting my content needs.
Conclusion
The good news is that Sling TV has made some big improvements since its last update. The interface is much easier to use, even if it's not as stylish as some of the other streaming services out there. And for the price, it's one of the most affordable ways to get your live TV fix and a wide variety of on-demand content. If you're undecided, I'd recommend giving it a try for two months and seeing if you like it. If you do, then upgrade to a full subscription!
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