sling.com
Sling TV was one of the first live OTT Internet TV streaming services introduced to the world. With its skinny bundle, Sling TV has 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 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 and is showing no signs of slowing down.
Since 2014, Sling TV has been an amazing alternative for viewers looking to cut the cords. This service provides a compact TV viewing experience comprising of channels that matter, without having to pay costly bills or rack up expensive equipment that clutters the space under their TV. You can live stream from any device and at an affordable price.
Since the success of Sling TV, numerous other live streaming platforms have emerged, including DirecTV Now, PlayStation Vue and even YouTubeTV. The only aspect which sets Sling TV apart from these services is that it is the cheapest compared to most of these channels.
Is Sling TV and Slingbox the same?
There is 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 allows for a great deal of flexibility in what channels it includes. Additional channels can be added for an extra fee, and those looking for premium channels like HBO, EPIX, and STARZ can do so for a small additional cost each month.
Sling TV is a live streaming service that uses the internet connection for its function. You will need a compatible player such as an Xbox One, Roku or Android device in order to use it.
History
Sling TV was unveiled on January 5, 2015. It is an American over-the-top internet television service owned by Dish Network. The service was made available at the ?Consumer Electronics Show? in Las Vegas. Ever since its launch, it has been seen as a virtual multichannel video programming distributor (MCVPD) 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
Sling TV's interface is a little confusing but it works fine. I had to spend some time to get the hang of it but my first impression was that it didn't have the most intuitive interface. The Grey, Black and White text combination is a standard color tone you'd find across most of the well-known streaming service websites.
I think that Sling TV's ability to save shows and channels and mark your favorite one is something that I like the most. This is common across all major streaming networks.
The little orange lines under the videos indicate how much of the video you have seen. We saw the same thing in Hotstar, where there is a green line. These little details count a lot and help you to continue from your left off.
Although its interface may not be extremely appealing or intuitive, Sling does get the job done. If you're accustomed to flipping channels, you'll be less pleased as there's no surfing option in Sling. The homepage is set up in a horizontal mosaic window format, starting 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'll need to side scroll a lot.
In 2019, viewers prefer back and forth toggle as compared to searching, sorting, and horizontal scrolling.
Content
However, the Orange Plan has more add-on channels while the Blue Plan has more premium channels. The Blue Plan also includes HBO and Cinemax which are both higher quality content providers than the other two plans. Sling TV is a great option for those looking for a slimmed down content experience with a plethora of add-on options.
Sling TV offers a sleek content package with various add-on choices. Though the library of content is not as expansive as that of many leading streaming services, it is still impressive. As far as the content goes, there are two plans - Orange and Blue Plan. The only difference between these plans is which additional channels are included; both have similar base channels. However, the Orange Plan includes more add-on channels while the Blue Plan includes more premium channels. Additionally, the Blue Plan includes HBO and Cinemax, both higher quality providers than the other two plans. Sling TV is a great option for those who are looking for a slimmed down content experience with ample options for add-on streaming services.
Channels such as ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, TBS, TNT, DIY Network, Food Network, HGTV, CNN, Travel Channel, ABC Family, Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, IFC, AMC and History are available through your TV.
The only difference between the two packages is that Sling Blue does not have Disney-owned channels.
On-Demand content is a USP
Aside 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 the basic package does not fulfill your content needs, you can also subscribe to additional channels at a monthly fee of $5. These add-ons can include children's channels, movie channels, sports channels - whatever your preferred additions might be.
Desktop/Mobile experience
With Slingbox, you can watch live TV on your computer and also access recordings that you have made. You have to buy a receiver and then add the channels that you want to watch. There is no way to pause or rewind Live TV with Slingbox.
I don't like the way the experience changes when casting streams from a smaller screen to a bigger one. For instance, the video and audio quality on my iPhone SE was clear and crisp, but when I cast it via Chromecast, the quality dropped and everything went awry.
The search experience is poor as a result of the inconsistency of the results. Regardless of your device, if you do a search query, you will get results that don't make much sense. For instance, try searching "Game of Thrones?", and you'll find random results featuring the GOT segment, behind the scenes, etcetera. The only thing you won't find is the show itself - which is very frustrating.
Compatibility is not a problem
To access Sling TV, you can create an account on the Dish website. You can use that information to log in to the Sling TV app. You can access the content via an app on Android, Apple TV, iOS, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Chromecast, Roku, Android TV System, and Xbox One. Thanks to a partnership between LG and Dish, you can stream live on Korean devices such as LG's webOS smart TVs, Vizio SmartCast TVs and Samsung Smart TVs.
Plans & Pricing
If you are 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 are 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 plan costs $25/month. For the first month, you are required to pay just $15/month as an introductory discount. Both of these channels will 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 have been using Sling TV for over two years and during this time, the service has improved progressively. I started with the Orange package and later switched to Sling Blue because I felt that Orange was not meeting my content needs.
Conclusion
Sling TV has revolutionized the OTT live streaming service and despite its less-than-ideal user interface, it still offers great value for money. It is one of the most affordable ways to watch live TV and on-demand content. I would strongly recommend checking it out for two months and if you feel it is worth your time and money, you can go ahead with a full subscription.
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