Broadcasting rights. When they’re switched up between channels, they can be a menace. Where your favourite live sports will be aired can change year in, year out as a result. So, finding the right TV provider for coverage of events that you love is essential.
Sling TV is a great option, particularly if you’re watching on a budget. Sling also has a variety of discounts available on subscription prices and local streaming equipment to bump up your savings.
This article contains affiliate links. When you subscribe through the links, we may earn a commission.
🔎 Check out the latest Sling TV offers and package deals
What is Sling TV?
Sling TV is an internet streaming service, which offers an alternative to traditional cable or satellite TV, cheaper monthly subscription packages, and a flexible membership arrangement.
Three primary subscription packages are available:
Sling Orange
Categorized on site as the Sports and Families package. Sports channels include ESPN, TNT and MotorTrend. Comedy Central, Cartoon Network, Disney Channel and Nickelodeon Jr also feature in the family department.
Sling Blue
Categorized on site as the News and Entertainment package. Channels include Bravo, USA, Fox 1, TLC, E! and Discovery Channel.
Sling Orange & Blue
Contains all the channels available across the individual packages.
.jpg?format=pjpg&quality=60&auto=webp&width=380)
Sling TVWhich sports channels are available on Sling TV?
The sports channels currently available in each package can be found below:
Orange
- ESPN
- ESPN2
- ESPN3
- ESPN 4K
- MotorTrend
- TNT
Blue
- FOX
- FX
- FOX Sports 1
- NBC (in select markets)
- NFL Network
- USA
Orange & Blue
- Features all of the above.
Add-ons and extras
Sling TV features a Sports Extra subscription which offers 13 additional channels, including MLB Network, BeinSports, ESPNU and NBA TV for $11 per month, on top of your primary package.
Sling also offers NBA League Pass for $16.99 per month and NBA Team Pass for $13.99 per month.
🔎 Check out the latest Sling TV offers and package deals
Sling TV subscription plans & pricing
Package | Monthly price | Simultaneous streams | Cloud DVR | Unlimited DVR | Channels | Exclusive channels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sling Orange | $45.99 | One | 50 hours | $5 | 35 | ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPN 4K, Disney Channel, FreeFrom, MotorTrend, and QVC |
Sling Blue | $50.99 | Three | 50 hours | $5 | 46 | ABC (local), FOX (local), NBC (local), Bravo, Cartoon Network, Discovery, E!, |
Sling Orange & Blue | $65.99 | Four | 50 hours | $5 | 54 | All the above and more. |
The combined package saves subscribers, which leaves wiggle room for Sports Extra, or throwing in some premium entertainment with discovery+.
Subscription offers
- Currently, all primary packages are running at half price for the first month of subscription. This puts Orange or Blue at $23 and $25.50 for the first month, respectively, while a combined package would be $33.
- Get 30 days of MGM+, STARZ, AMC+ and Paramount+ with SHOWTIME free upon subscription to any package.
- Sign up to Sling for three months upfront, from $114.99.
- Subscribe to any plan and include MAX, you get the first month half price and save $5 per month thereafter.
Equipment offers
A free Air TV Mini is available to new subscribers for two months of the subscription paid upfront.
Getty ImagesHow can I sign up for Sling TV?
Signing up is quick and easy. Here's how:
Register online
Go to the Sling TV homepage at www.sling.com
Once there, click on “Try us today”. You’ll be taken to the registration page and asked to provide your email address, billing ZIP code and to set a password.
Choose your services
Following registration, you’ll be asked to select your primary package (Orange, Blue, or Orange & Blue).
Once selected, your next choice is any add-ons and extras. These are broken down into categories, incuding:
- DVR
- Premium
- Latino
- International
Then, when you’ve finished selection, go to the checkout.
Checkout
You can choose to pay via credit card or express payment.
Your order summary will be displayed on the page alongside your payment details, with the date of your next subscription payment at the end. T&Cs are also featured at the bottom of the page.
When you’ve filled out your details, click finish and submit.
Log in and stream
After you’ve made your payment, it’s time to log in. Return to the homepage, click on the account icon in the top right corner and you’re ready to go.
General live sport streaming
Categorized as Sling TV’s sports package on the website, Orange subscription is the best option for general live sports streaming at an affordable price. It includes ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN3, and ESPN 4K. ESPN coverage tends to offer the most for basketball fans, as NBA, WNBA and NBL matches air regularly. Various baseball, hockey, and cricket games are also available across the three channels.
Motorsport fans can watch all 24 hours of Le Mans via Motor Trend, as well as live interviews and footage from the 2025 NASCAR Championship.
TNT also provides Golf coverage for professional competitions, including Capital One’s ‘The Match’.
However, for soccer lovers looking to watch international league matches, Orange subscription may prove disappointing.
Soccer streaming
For soccer fans, a subscription to Blue is the better option, offering TNT, USA, and NBC channels.
Turner Sports now owns most broadcasting rights for national soccer matches, so the SheBelieves Cup and the CONCACAF Champions League can be watched live on TNT. Meanwhile, many Premier League games can be viewed over USA and NBC channels.
Not all Premier League games are aired on USA and with NBC availability dependent on where you’re streaming from, so Blue subscription may still fall short.
A handy solution to this is combining your Blue subscription with an alternate service provider like Peacock. Peacock is a streaming platform owned by NBC and typically airs the Premier League matches that are unavailable in the USA. Priced from only $7.99 per month, it’s a cost-effective pairing with your Sling package.
Getty ImagesSling TV pros & cons
To make your decision a little easier, here are some helpful pros and cons to consider:
Pros
- Affordable monthly subscription
Regardless of whether you take advantage of the current promotional offers, the monthly subscription is cheaper than most competitors at full price.
- Customisable Content through extras and add-ons
The likes of Sports Extra, discovery+ and SHOWTIME let you build the viewing experience you want, while remaining cheaper than premium sites per month.
- Flexible membership
You can cancel your monthly membership at any time which gives you full control over your account, and flexibility if your budget changes.
- Promotional offers
The many offers currently available give you the opportunity to try new channels at no extra cost, and access equipment at lower prices.
- Simple decision making
With only three packages to choose from, Sling TV have made it quick and easy to see what you get for your money.
Cons
- Limited channel availability
The channels available are less varied than a premium service.
- Channels split between packages.
However, for a little bit more, the joint Orange & Blue package is worthconsidering to resolve this.
- Local coverage requires a HD antenna.
Even with promotional deals, purchasing an antenna can be costly.
Sling TV compared to other live sports streaming services
Compared to other live sports streaming services like YouTube TV, fubo, Hulu + Live TV and DIRECTV, Sling TV is the most affordable, even with its most expensive package.
You can find each service provider and their price lists for primary packages in the table below:
*All information has been pulled directly from the streaming service websites, and costs have been quoted at full price.
Streaming Service | Packages | Channels Available | DVR Storage | Monthly cost |
Sling TV | Orange | 35 | 50 hours | $45.99 |
Blue | 46 | 50 hours | $50.99 | |
Orange and Blue | 54 | 50 hours | $65.99 | |
Fubo | Pro | 223 | Unlimted (Cloud) | $84.99 |
Elite | 294 | Unlimited (Cloud) | $94.99 | |
Latino | 50 | Unlimited (Cloud) | $14.99 | |
YouTube TV | Base Plan | 100+ | Unlimited | $82.99 |
NFL Sunday Ticket | Starts at $378 annually | |||
DIRECTV | Entertainment | 90+ | Unlimited (Cloud) | $64.99 |
Choice | 125+ | Unlimited (Cloud) | $84.99 | |
Ultimate | 160+ | Unlimited (Cloud) | $109.99 | |
Premier | 185+ | Unlimited (Cloud) | $154.99 |
🔎 Check out the latest Sling TV offers and package deals
The Bottom Line
Sling TV is a great option for those seeking an affordable and customizable live sports streaming service. Membership is also flexible, giving you full control of what you pay for.
The split of sports channels between Orange and Blue, can also make deciding between them tricky. However, for only a few dollars more, the combination pack is available which solves that problem.
Ultimately, while the number of channels on offer is trimmed down, so is the price, and many core sporting channels and networks are available with the click of a button.
So, whether you’re waiting with bated breath for the conclusion of the 2024-25 English Premier League season to conclude, or for the women’s CONCACAF cup next February, Sling has you covered.
Getty ImagesSign up today and enjoy your first subscription monthly payment for Sling TV at half price.