Sling TV updates user interface, adds WeatherNation and Showtime Family Zone

July 19, 2017 - 17:59 -- RokuGuide

Sling TV updates user interface, adds Weather Nation and Showtime Family ZoneSling TV, the popular live TV streaming service, has brought its updated user interface to Roku devices. The UI update adds a new way to browse content, with a traditional grid such as those available on cable services and in TV guides for decades. Sling's blog post about this addition says that "following DVR, the grid guide has consistently been our most requested feature from Sling TV customers." The new grid display can be found under the main GUIDE selection in the main menu across the top of Sling's home screen. If you prefer the original layout, that's still there - just select Channel under GUIDE and you can browse by channel instead of time.

In addition to the new Grid screen, Sling has added "Featured" content ribbons to the MyTV screen. Currently available are "Featured Movies" and "Featured Shows." According to Sling "these ribbons make it easier to discover our deep library of on-demand content so you can find a new binge-worthy show or sit back and discover a classic flick, right from the MyTV screen."

Coming up: Sling will be adding a new "Shows" screen that promises to make it easier to find a TV series to watch. This new screen will let you view shows by genre, such as drama, lifestyle, comedy, crime, sci-fi, action and kids shows.


WeatherNation

News Extra subscribers can now watch the live feed from WeatherNation, which includes weather news and forecasts from experienced meteorologists. Sling Orange and Sling Blue customers will also get WeatherNation for free for the next six months - you'll find it listed to the far right in your Channel Guide, just before Local Now.

If you don't already have the News Extra add-on pack, this addition probably won't sway to shell out an extra five bucks a month as WeatherNation is already available on Roku as a standalone channel that includes the live feed as well as interactive features such as always-available local forecasts, current conditions, and radar, as well as on-demand video of weather news stories, headlines, travel forecasts, and much more.

SHOWTIME Family Zone

Subscribers who have SHOWTIME Premium through Sling will now find SHOWTIME Family Zone in their subscription package. SHOWTIME Family Zone provides live and on-demand content featuring "wholesome films and specials the entire family will love, from kid-approved animated adventures like 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' to family-friendly dramas like 'Akeelah and the Bee' — and absolutely no R-rated programming whatsoever.

In addition to SHOWTIME Family Zone, the $10/month SHOWTIME Premium package includes SHOWTIME, SHOWTIME 2, SHOWTIME SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME, SHOWTIME BEYOND, SHOWTIME NEXT, SHOWTIME WEST and SHOWTIME WOMEN.

Click here for more information on Sling TV on Roku. A free 7-day trial to Sling TV is available for new subscribers.

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