The electronic program guide for Dish Network's free television service Sling Freestream. (Graphic by The Desk)
The electronic program guide for Dish Network’s free television service Sling Freestream. (Graphic by The Desk)
Sling TV has added a new low-cost option to its streaming lineup with the launch of Sling Select, a smaller television package that includes access to Fox News, FX and NFL Network at a price that undercuts the typical cable and satellite TV bundle.
The plan starts at $20 per month, Sling TV said in a press release on Tuesday, but some customers will pay more if they live in an area where ABC, Fox and NBC own one or more of their local TV stations. In those markets, Sling TV customers will pay $25 per month for Sling Select if they receive one or two local stations or $30 per month if they receive all three networks.
The factor involving local channels means Sling Select subscribers in small and rural parts of the country will likely pay the least amount of money — $20 per month to receive only the national cable networks offered through the package — while those who live in bigger cities where a broadcast network is more likely to own the local station will pay more.
Still, the price of Sling Select with local TV channels include undercuts comparable packages offered by peer services like DirecTV, which includes local channels in its “MyNews” ($40 per month) and “MySports” ($70 per month) streaming plans, but not in its cheaper “MyEntertainment” ($35 per month) package.
“Sling Select is perfect for customers who want a streamlined, cost-effective way to enjoy the channels they love,” said Seth Van Sickel, the Senior Vice President, Product and Operations at Sling TV. “With the freedom to choose what you watch and how much you pay, Sling continues to lead the way in TV that works for real people.”
For TV fans who want more channels, Sling says it will allow customers to tack on bundles of networks through its “Sling Extras” offering, which has long been available to legacy subscribers. Among the options are Sports Extra, which includes NFL Red Zone, Big Ten Network and FS2; News Extra, with networks like Newsmax, NewsNation and Fox Business; Entertainment Extra, featuring Paramount Network and CMT; Hollywood Extra, which includes FXX and FXM; Lifestyle Extra, with Hallmark Channel and UPtv; Heartland Extra, including INSP and Great American Family; Kids Extra, with NickToons and TeenNick; and Latino Extra, offering channels such as Nat Geo Mundo, beIN Sports and History en Español.
Sling also continues to market and sell its two base programming packages, Sling Orange (which includes channels from Disney like ESPN and ABC-owned local TV stations) and Sling Blue (which includes legacy Fox channels, including FX and Fox Sports 1, along with Fox News, Comcast-owned cable networks and NFL Network), priced around $45 per month.
“With core options like Sling Orange, Sling Blue and now the new Sling Select, customers can choose the lineup that works best for them,” the company said in a statement. “Whether you’re cutting the cord for the first time or just looking for a smarter way to watch, Sling makes it easy to customize your TV experience, because Sling lets you do that.”
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