Sling TV Expands and Revamps Channel Lineup

March 20, 2015 - 18:01 -- RokuGuide

Sling TVLaunched only last month, Dish Network's Sling TV is already revamping it's channel offerings by adding new channels, reorganizing its premium add-on packages, and expanding its video-on-demand library. Although Dish hasn't revealed any subscriber numbers, only describing early results as "encouraging," it appears that more cable TV networks want in on the action.

AMC and IFC have been added to the basic package, now called the "Best of Live TV Package." A&E, History, H2, and Lifetime are reportedly planned to be added to this $20 per month subscription package. This may help to quell some of the complaints made by those who can't access these standalone Roku channels because they don't subscribe to a participating cable or satellite TV provider. However, Sling TV offers primarily livestream broadcasts and not the extensive video-on-demand libraries available on the A&E, History, and Lifetime Roku channels.

The original "News & Info Extra" add-on has been split into two categories: "Lifestlye Extra" and "World News Extra". TruTV and WE tv and been added to Sling TV and join DIY Network and Cooking Channel in the "Lifestlye Extra" add-on. FYI and LMN are reportedly planned to be added in the near future. "World News Extra" adds News India 18, Euronews, NDTV 24x7, France 24, and RT (Russia Today) to the original lineup of news channels that consisted only of HLN and Bloomberg TV.

Another new add-on was recently announced: "Hollywood Extra" includes content from EPIX, EPIX2, EPIX3, EPIX Drive-In and Sundance TV. This announcement included news that Sling TV will soon be expanding its original livestream-only model to include video-on-demand content from AMC, IFC and SundanceTV, with an additional 2,000 movie and entertainment titles from EPIX. The Hollywood Extra add-on will also include the ability to watch up to seven days of previously-aired content.

No changes have been made or planned for the remaining add-on packages, "Sports Extra" and "Kids Extra."

Click here for for more information on the Sling TV channel on Roku, including a full listing of cable channels currently available on Sling TV, go directly to the Sling TV website.