If you're looking to ditch your cable and watch it, too, DISH Network has launched their much-anticipated Sling TV service on Roku and other devices. Sling TV allows you to watch several cable network channels for only $20 per month with no contract and no equipment other than a Roku player or TV.
The basic channel, which has a 7-day free trial, includes popular cable channels ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, TBS, Food Network, HGTV, Travel Channel, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, ABC Family, Disney Channel, CNN, and others. For an additional $5 per month the following add-on packages are available:
- "Sports Extra" adds SEC Network, ESPN News, ESPNU, ESPN Bases Loaded, ESPN Buzzer Beater, ESPN Goal Line, Universal Sports Network, Univision Deportes, and beIN Sports
- "Kids Extra" adds Disney Junior, Disney XD, Boomerang, Baby TV and Duck TV
- "News & Info Extra" adds HLN, Cooking Channel, DIY and Bloomberg TV.
Some have heralded Sling TV as a game changer because it allows users to subscribe to some of the most-popular cable channels at a relatively low price without a much more expensive bundle of channels that aren't wanted, and that there is no contract and no need to buy or rent the provider's equipment. Critics point out that this is still a bundle; if you only want the Cooking Channel or the SEC Network, you have to also subscribe to the basic package of channels that you may never watch.
Sling TV may be a revolutionary step toward freedom from cable and satellite TV service, or it may be only an incremental step in that path. Either way, if you want to cut down on expenses and these channels interest you, you can save a lot of money over a full cable or satellite package.
Sling TV is currently offering a free Roku Streaming Stick
The Sling TV service is available on current-generation Roku players and Roku TVs, as well as on Amazon Fire, iOS and Android devices, and Mac and PC computers. More information on Sling TV can be found here, or visit the Sling TV website at www.sling.com.
