[ 2015 ] Sling TV?

[ace2000]

Right now, Sling TV and Best Buy are running a special that if you purchase 3 months of Sling, Best Buy will give you a $50 voucher that can be used towards the purchase of a Chromecast, Fire, or Roku. (Edit: Sling TV on Chromecast will be offered later this year.)

Anyone have any recent feedback on Sling TV? I recall Ken providing some excellent feedback a few months ago (it was negative feedback), does anyone have any thoughts or feedback? We're not talking about the "Sling Box" here, Sling TV is the service that gives you access to about 20 channels, including ESPN and others.

With the end of the baseball season coming soon, I've decided to go for it.

Here's the link to the Best Buy special...

http://slickdeals.net/f/8016919-sli...hTest+-+Control+-+Control+-+Control+-+Control

 

[Elan]

No opinion on the service, but thought I'd post this cut/paste to save others the time:

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What is Sling TV?

Sling TV is a new live TV service that allows subscribers to watch a collection of cable TV channels on their TVs, computers or mobile devices. These are live TV channels, just like those offered by a cable or satellite TV service, except they're delivered over the Internet.

Although Sling TV is a subsidiary of Dish Network, the satellite provider, it's operated as an entirely separate service. You do not need a Dish subscription to get Sling TV.

What does Sling TV cost and what does it include?

The base package, called "The Best of Live TV," is $20 per month. It requires no contract or commitment, and you can cancel or suspend service at any time.

The package includes 19 channels, most of them basic cable staples like ESPN, AMC, Disney Channel, TNT, History and HGTV. Add-on packs, each $5 more per month, are also available. You need to subscribe to the base package first before you can access any add-on channels, so Sling TV's minimum cost is $20 per month.

SLING TV PACKAGES

Package Price Channels

The Best of Live TV (core) $20 per month ESPN, ESPN2, AMC, TNT, TBS, CNN, A&E, Lifetime, History, Food Network, HGTV, Travel Channel, Cartoon Network/Adult Swim, Disney Channel, ABC Family, IFC, H2, El Rey Network, Maker, Galavision

Sports Extra $5 SEC Network, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, Universal Sports, Univision Deportes, beIN Sports, ESPN Buzzer Beater, ESPN Bases Loaded, ESPN Goal Line

Kids Extra $5 Disney Junior, Disney XD, Boomerang, Baby TV, Duck TV

Lifestyle Extra $5 truTV, Cooking Channel, DIY, WE tv, FYI, LMN

World News Extra $5 Bloomberg TV, HLN, Euro News, France 24, NDTV 24/7, News 18, Russia Today

Hollywood Extra $5 EPIX, EPIX2, EPIX3, EPIX Drive-In, Sundance TV
All of the above channels are available now aside from A&E, History, Lifetime and H2, which are all coming before the end of March 2015, and FYI and LMN, which are "coming soon."

What about other channels?

Only the channels listed above are available on Sling TV.

Major broadcast networks, namely CBS, ABC, Fox and NBC, not to mention PBS, are not included. (And let us note, for the record, that CNET is published by CBS Interactive, a division of CBS.) Numerous other cable channels (like regional sports channels, Fox News, Bravo and Comedy Central) and premium channels (like HBO, Showtime and The Movie Channel) are also absent.

If you don't want to pay for cable TV, many of those absences can be addressed separately from Sling TV. The broadcast networks can be had for free (in some areas) with an over-the-air antenna. You can also get TV programming via broadcaster web sites or services like Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus, CBS All Access or HBO's upcoming Internet-only service. And many individual TV programs are available within 24 hours of airing on services like iTunes and Amazon, if you're willing to pay by the episode or by the season.

How can I watch Sling TV?

You'll need to subscribe at Sling.com and set up an account, then install the app on a supported device.

Sling TV is currently available (or not) on the following devices.

SLING TV DEVICES

TV devices Roku (TVs, boxes and streaming stick), Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Xbox One
Mobile devices Android phones and tablets, iOS phones and tablets (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch), PC and Mac computers
"Coming soon" Chromecast, Google Nexus Player, Android TV devices (select 2015 Sony and Sharp Smart TVs), Samsung and LG Smart TVs
Not available PlayStation (3 or 4)

 

[ace2000]

Thanks Elan. Sling TV is probably only of interest to the "cord cutters" out there. I became a member of that group about 3 months ago and don't regret it yet.

It's always the baseball playoffs or basketball playoffs that get me though!

 

[Elan]

Thanks Elan. Sling TV is probably only of interest to the "cord cutters" out there. I became a member of that group about 3 months ago and don't regret it yet.

It's always the baseball playoffs or basketball playoffs that get me though!

Yeah, I think most everyone would like to be a cable cutter. Sports is always the big obstacle. This is probably the best option to date. I might try it out without dropping my DirecTv. It's nearly free to try.

 

[mash84121]

We've had Sling TV since right after it became available. Overall we have been happy with it although we occasionally encounter a few issues. Sometimes the sound gets out of sync with the video and we will get random error codes every once in a while. But some of that may be attributed to our internet speed.
We added the kids package for $5 dollars, which my kids really enjoy and I like having the sports channels. The biggest downside is no local sports channels.
Overall, we have liked it especially where it is half the cost of cable or satellite. Also, it is very easy to add or drop services, all online as opposed to having to deal with high pressure cable customer service on the phone.

 

[Ken555]

Sling TV?

I'm very curious to hear from others about current feedback on this as well. I could easily sign up again if it is more stable, etc. FWIW, I haven't missed it at all. If anything, I'm enjoying focusing on content from Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, HBO, and Showtime. I haven't even used my indoor antenna since early in the year.

However, I *have* noticed that I'm not spending as much $$ on TV content!


Sent from my iPad

 

[ace2000]

I've had a chance to watch Sling over the past few days. It's ok, and that's probably the best way to describe it. It's not the same quality as regular TV or Cable. I would describe it as kind of like watching your computer on your TV screen. Not bad but definitely not great. I do enjoy being able to "surf" the channels again though.

Now, I've got Hulu (with Showtime), Amazon, and Sling, as well as about 15 local channels.

Hulu and Showtime ($17)
SlingTV ($20)
Amazon (Free)
Local TV (Free)
Other miscellaneous Roku channels (Free)

 

[ace2000]

Evidence grows of cord-cutting acceleration

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/08/13/evidence-grows-cord-cutting-acceleration/31616345/

As consumers dabble in the growing number of Net-delivered video options, including Sling TV, Sony PlayStation Vue and HBO Now, a growing number are leaving the traditional pay-TV service behind, says SNL Kagan analyst Ian Olgeirson.

 

[Elan]

I've had a chance to watch Sling over the past few days. It's ok, and that's probably the best way to describe it. It's not the same quality as regular TV or Cable. I would describe it as kind of like watching your computer on your TV screen. Not bad but definitely not great. I do enjoy being able to "surf" the channels again though.

Now, I've got Hulu (with Showtime), Amazon, and Sling, as well as about 15 local channels.

Hulu and Showtime ($17)
SlingTV ($20)
Amazon (Free)
Local TV (Free)
Other miscellaneous Roku channels (Free)

So what do you do for sports?

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[am1]

be interested to see where the market will go.

One day it all may be free with more commercials or in programming marketing.

I would not want to own or work for a cable company.

 

[ace2000]

So what do you do for sports?

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Listen to radio! Seriously, it's still a problem. I'm a baseball Cardinal fan and it does sting a bit. For now, I've got TBS which will carry the baseball and basketball playoffs, as well as ESPN. Those two channels are delivered via Sling.

However, I sat down to watch the Cardinals game on ESPN on Monday and it told me the game was blacked out. I live closer to KC than St Louis, but I watched a recent Royals game on ESPN and the Cardinals are the ones blacked out. I don't get it!

My TV watching consists of less than an hour per night on average, and the CNN channel is probably the one that gets the most use for me. I am definitely borderline on Sling.

 

[Elan]

Listen to radio! Seriously, it's still a problem. I'm a baseball Cardinal fan and it does sting a bit. For now, I've got TBS which will carry the baseball and basketball playoffs, as well as ESPN. Those two channels are delivered via Sling.

However, I sat down to watch the Cardinals game on ESPN on Monday and it told me the game was blacked out. I live closer to KC than St Louis, but I watched a recent Royals game on ESPN and the Cardinals are the ones blacked out. I don't get it!

My TV watching consists of less than an hour per night on average, and the CNN channel is probably the one that gets the most use for me. I am definitely borderline on Sling.

Thanks.

That's my fear as well -- it would only take 1 missed important game to really irritate me. I guess one could always hit a local sports bar, if necessary. Of course, after the $50 in wings, burgers and beer, the cord cutting benefit has been somewhat nullified....

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[Ken555]

Of course, after the $50 in wings, burgers and beer, the cord cutting benefit has been somewhat nullified....

Yeah, but when was the last time your cable company offered you food and alcohol?


Sent from my iPad

 

[Ironwood]

I have Roku but it is just a content supplement to my cable package. What else would sling TV give me?

 

[Ken555]

I have Roku but it is just a content supplement to my cable package. What else would sling TV give me?

Answered above. Read the thread...


Sent from my iPad

 

[ace2000]

... Or here's a nice view of the channel choices... be sure and scroll down past the first page.

https://www.sling.com/package

I find myself only interested in CNN and ESPN though, that's through the end of week 1.

 

[Ironwood]

Answered above. Read the thread...


Sent from my iPad

It looks worth investigating further, but I wouldn't want to loose all mainstream networks. It would be like doing a factory reboot on my laptop. I would have to start my viewing habits all over again. But maybe I should!

 

[Mosca]

Listen to radio! Seriously, it's still a problem. I'm a baseball Cardinal fan and it does sting a bit. For now, I've got TBS which will carry the baseball and basketball playoffs, as well as ESPN. Those two channels are delivered via Sling.

However, I sat down to watch the Cardinals game on ESPN on Monday and it told me the game was blacked out. I live closer to KC than St Louis, but I watched a recent Royals game on ESPN and the Cardinals are the ones blacked out. I don't get it!

My TV watching consists of less than an hour per night on average, and the CNN channel is probably the one that gets the most use for me. I am definitely borderline on Sling.

I hear you. I'm a Pirates fan in NE PA, closer to Philadelphia, New York, Washington DC, Baltimore, and Boston than I am to Pittsburgh. But the Pirates are blacked out on MLB.com, so I have to watch them on Gameday and listen to the radio broadcast.

 

[ace2000]

Sling TV has recently come out with a new package of TV channel options. For $20 you basically get the Fox Sports channels added (including your regional Fox sports network), and the Disney channel and ESPN subtracted.

After starting this thread last year in August, I used Sling for about 3 months and dropped it soon afterwards. Now, I've got all the sports I'm interested in, and definitely back for good!

Also, DirectTV is coming out with a competing streaming package soon.

 

[Elan]

Sling TV has recently come out with a new package of TV channel options. For $20 you basically get the Fox Sports channels added (including your regional Fox sports network), and the Disney channel and ESPN subtracted.

After starting this thread last year in August, I used Sling for about 3 months and dropped it soon afterwards. Now, I've got all the sports I'm interested in, and definitely back for good!

Also, DirectTV is coming out with a competing streaming package soon.

So what if one wants the Fox Sports channels and ESPN?

 

[x3 skier]

So what if one wants the Fox Sports channels and ESPN?

$40

To compare, go to https://www.sling.com/service/compare

Cheers

 

[ace2000]

So what if one wants the Fox Sports channels and ESPN?

I'm almost positive you can purchase both packages - it gave me that option when I signed up. Or just between you and me... you can use someone else's cable/satellite login and password to stream ESPN via Roku (or Roku like device).

Sling is not for everyone though, it's kind of clumsy, and you definitely won't like it if you're a channel surfer.

 

[Elan]

$40

To compare, go to https://www.sling.com/service/compare

Cheers

Yeah, I was being lazy. Figured Ace2000 would have the scoop. I did go to the website while I was awaiting his reply, however.

I'm almost positive you can purchase both packages - it gave me that option when I signed up. Or just between you and me... you can use someone else's cable/satellite login and password to stream ESPN via Roku (or Roku like device).

Sling is not for everyone though, it's kind of clumsy, and you definitely won't like it if you're a channel surfer.

Thanks. That's what I was thinking, just get both packages. Even at $40, it's a good deal. I might give one of the packages a try to see how I like it. I wish CBSSN were available. Can you elaborate on the clumsiness?

 

[ace2000]

Can you elaborate on the clumsiness?

1) Kind of slow changing channels. You have to scroll through the channel guide to get to the specific one you want. 2) Commercial breaks repeat the same commercials over and over again. 3) The video quality is not 100%, but not too bad though.

They have a deal right now where you can get a free trial for 7 days. Then they give you the option to prepay for the first 3 months of service and they'll give you $50 towards a Roku.

 

[Elan]

1) Kind of slow changing channels. You have to scroll through the channel guide to get to the specific one you want. 2) Commercial breaks repeat the same commercials over and over again. 3) The video quality is not 100%, but not too bad though.

They have a deal right now where you can get a free trial for 7 days. Then they give you the option to prepay for the first 3 months of service and they'll give you $50 towards a Roku.

Thanks.

Yes, I saw the trial offer on the website. Will probably give it a whirl. Wish I would have thought about it during the winter months. Don't watch much TV once the weather gets nice.