Featured: 3 optional packs | Sports Channels | AirTV 2 and AirTV Mini Streamers
Sling TV takes an a la carte approach to channels that sets it apart from its competitors and makes it our top overall pick. While others tend to offer just one or two packages, Sling TV offers three basic packages – Blue, Orange, Orange & Blue – plus a wide variety of packages that come with dozens of related channels. This is a mixed luck, as it can be a bit confusing. But I like it because it allows me to get only the channels I want.
It starts at two $35 per month for Blue or Orange channel packages. Several channels (TBS and TNT) are available on both Sling Orange, 31+ channels, and Sling Blue, 41+ channels. Orange is essentially an ESPN/Disney bundle, while Blue offers a Fox/NBC bundle. Your best deal, if you want a wide selection of channels, is to combine them in the Orange & Blue bundle for $50.
What you won’t get are local ABC, CBS and PBS channels. For those, Sling TV encourages you to use an over-the-air (OTA) antenna. Indeed, Sling TV has its own streaming devices, AirTV 2 and AirTV Mini, to watch both Sling TV and your local channels. I have used and liked both.
Sling TV’s plans, alongside popular services like Showtime channels, range in price from $6 to $10 monthly. For example, the $11 Sports Extra comes with 15 channels, including NBA TV, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, NHL Network, and several college sports networks. It also offers a personal favorite, Willow Cricket, for $10 per month. The $6 Hollywood Extra offers seven channels that include – to my mind – the Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and ReelZ essentials.
On its cloud DVR, Sling TV offers 50 hours. If you want more, you can get up to 200 hours of storage for an additional $5 per month. You can also fast-forward through ads with this service.
Your streaming options are…exciting. Sling Orange only allows you to stream one channel at a time, while Sling Blue allows three. If you get a plan with both, you can stream four shows at once.
Finally, if you want non-English channels, Sling TV is better than all the other services combined. It includes many Asian and European language services. It also offers Arabic and Brazilian Portuguese.
Personally, I like Sling TV since it pioneered live TV in 2016. I like the look, I like its speed, and I love the fact that I can pick and choose my channels. Its combined Blue and Orange pricing is still lower than that of its main competitors, making Sling TV the best streaming service available today for the price point.
Advantages:
- Live TV pioneer returns in 2016
- It starts with two channel packages $35 per month
- Great international language options
Defect:
- What you won’t get is the local ABC, CBS and PBS channel
- On its cloud DVR, Sling TV only offers 50 hours (or 200 hours for an extra $5).
