Dish Network-owned streaming service Sling TV announced today that it will finally allow the general public to sign up and watch live TV from a variety of networks from a Mac or iOS device (through the free Sling Television app), along with several other devices.
Sling TV offers plans starting at $20 (with $5 add-ons available for some networks) that includes streaming and video-on-demand viewing options for live TV networks that usually require a pricey cable subscription, such as ESPN, TNT, Disney, TBS, CNN, and many more.
Dish also announced today that within the next few weeks it will be adding a whole new lineup of channels owned by AMC Networks. Sling users will be able to stream shows like The Walking Dead and Better Call Saul from AMC, or Doctor Who and Sherlock from BBC America. The deal also includes content from networks like IFC and SundanceTV. Shows from AMC Networks will be available as part of the base $20 plan.
You can sign up for Sling through the iOS app or via Sling.com on your computer.
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How is this different from cable? It’s a bundle of channels, (most of which you won’t want), you have to pay extra for the “good ones” and it has commercials even though you are paying for it.
I actually haven’t seen any commercials.
On ESPN, for example, no ads are shown – it just saws ‘Brief commercial break, we’ll be back.’
And every channel, when they do show ads, they only show ads for their own channel. (Example, ABC Family will only advertise their shows)
Watching the food network at the moment, and I’m seeing commercials. I think networks are handling commercials on a case by case basis.
Sling is still a pricy subscription.
Let me pick 10 channels for $10 and then we’ll talk. Even if it’s limited to watching one channel at a time.
Evidently their web site had problems. Tried to sign up, received error messages all day and when I tried to enter my debit card, it stopped responding. Hoo boy what a great web site and app. I caneta an email demanding I not be charged and any relationship terminated. Idiotic and shitty start to what will probably be a crappy Comcast clone. Saved $240.
Goddam auto correct. Should read “I sent an email”, not “I caneta email”…
I had some issues signing up. It wasn’t liking my auto-fill, so I couldn’t finalize my payment information. Filled it out by hand and it worked fine. I’d attribute most of the problems to it being a little overwhelmed. Today everything seems to be working pretty well.
Still doesn’t work on my phone
I downloaded this app to try it. Crashes each time upon opening. No airplay compatibility and the user interface leaves a ton to be desired. Promptly cancelled my subscription before my trial period ended. With an experience like that I’d rather have cable.
The big ten are breaking ranks come on apple step in and do it
I hope they add an app to the Apple TV. With HBO and Showtime going on their own, I might be able to actually ditch the Cable subscription.
The prices are to high, you might as well keep your cable company. Only a few channels then everything else is another $5 bucks and another $5 bucks before you know it you are paying more than the cable company charges. They are getting closer but still not there yet and they should let customers choose which channels they want individually to put together a set of channels at much lower prices if they want this to succeed.
I think someone tried to do the “ala carte” approach back in the late 90’s, but the cable/satellite companies put a stop to it. I would love the ala carte option!! We only watch ESPN and Disney channels at our house. But, yes, let me pick and choose which channels we want and don’t want to pay for.