If you're looking to watch your favorite sports without a cable subscription, then Sling TV may be a good choice.
If you're looking for an affordable way to watch live sports, Sling TV is worth considering. This popular streaming platform doesn't offer quite the extensive array of sports channels that some other platforms do.
However, Sling's low-price and flexible packages offer a great way to get the sports coverage you want without paying for more than you need. Even those who want more sports can find it here -- if they're willing to pay a little extra.
Before you settle on Sling TV, though, it's important to do your research and determine if it has the teams and sports you want to watch. Read on to learn more about watching sports on Sling TV so you can decide if it's right for you.
Sling TV Plans and Sports Channels Compared
Sling TV's two starting plans, Orange and Blue, each cost $35/mo. You also have the option to combine them for $50/mo. Both of the main Sling TV channel packages feature TBS, TNT, and USA Network. Meanwhile, Sling Orange includes ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN 3, while Sling Blue has FS1 and NFL Network, along with local Fox and NBC channels in some markets, so sports fans should keep this in mind when deciding between the base plans.
Sports Channels on Sling TV
| Sling Orange | Sling Blue | Sling Orange & Sling Blue | |
| ABC | X | X | X |
| ACC Network | $11/mo. | $11/mo. | $15/mo. |
| ACC Network Extra | $11/mo. | $11/mo. | $15/mo. |
| BeIN Sports | $11/mo. | $11/mo. | $15/mo. |
| BeIN Sports Español | X | X | X |
| Big Ten Network | X | $11/mo. | $15/mo. |
| CBS Sports Network | X | X | X |
| Eleven Sports | X | X | X |
| ESPN | ✔ | X | ✔ |
| ESPN2 | ✔ | X | ✔ |
| ESPN3 | ✔ | X | ✔ |
| ESPN Deportes | X | X | X |
| ESPNews | $11/mo. | X | $15/mo. |
| ESPNU | $11/mo. | X | $15/mo. |
| Fight Network | X | X | X |
| Fox | X | ✔ (in select markets) | ✔ (in select markets) |
| Fox Deportes | X | X | X |
| Fox Soccer Plus | X | X | X |
| FS1 | X | ✔ | ✔ |
| FS2 | X | $11/mo. | $15/mo. |
| fubo Sports Network | X | X | X |
| Galavision | X | X | X |
| GinX eSports TV | X | X | X |
| Golf Channel | X | $11/mo. | $15/mo. |
| GOLTV English | X | X | X |
| GOLTV Spanish | X | X | X |
| MAVTV | X | X | X |
| MLB Network | $11/mo. | $11/mo. | $15/mo. |
| MLB Strike Zone | $11/mo. | $11/mo. | $15/mo. |
| Motortrend | ✔ | X | ✔ |
| NBC | X | ✔ (in select markets) | ✔ (in select markets) |
| NBA TV | $11/mo. | $11/mo. | $15/mo. |
| NFL RedZone | X | $11/mo. | $15/mo. |
| NFL Network | X | ✔ | ✔ |
| NHL Network | $11/mo. | $11/mo. | $15/mo. |
| Olympic Channel | X | $11/mo. | $15/mo. |
| Outdoor Channel | X | X | X |
| PAC12 Network (certain areas) | $11/mo. | $11/mo. | $15/mo. |
| SEC Network | $11/mo. | X | $15/mo. |
| Sportsman Channel | X | X | X |
| Stadium | X | X | X |
| TBS | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Tennis Channel | $11/mo. | $11/mo. | $15/mo. |
| TNT | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| TyC Sports | X | X | X |
| TUDN | X | X | X |
| USA | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Zona Futbol | X | X | X |
Even at $5/mo., the Sling Orange & Sling Blue combination plan is cheaper than many streaming alternatives, such as fuboTV and Hulu + Live TV, both of which start at $70/mo. However, Sling TV's sports channel offerings are also slimmer than these competitors. If you can access the channels you want with Sling TV, though, then you'll save on monthly subscription fees.
Sling TV Sports Add-ons
There's only one Sling TV sports package add-on: Sports Extra. The package makeup differs depending on whether you have Sling Orange or Blue, or you can get every sports channel Sling offers with the add-on on the Orange & Blue plan. This add-on is a must-have for serious sports fans because it includes many of the major networks that air the most popular leagues, teams, and tournaments.
Sports Extra ($11–$15/mo.)
The Sports Extra add-on costs $11/mo., if you're subscribed to Sling Orange or Sling Blue. With the combined Orange & Blue plan, this add-on costs $15/mo.
Sports Extra includes several additional sports networks, depending on which plan you have. Popular channels such as NFL RedZone, NBA TV, NHL Network, Golf Channel, beIN SPORTS, Olympic Channel, Tennis Channel, and FS2 are some of the top options. For college sports coverage on Sling TV, several conference-specific networks -- such as ACC Network, SEC Network, and Pac-12 Network -- are also available.
Since Sling Orange and Blue have different Sports Extra channels, it's best to subscribe to Orange & Blue and purchase the $15/mo. Sports Extra add-on if you want everything Sling offers for sports fans.
If you already have Sling TV, you can sign up for Sports Extra in your account settings by scrolling down to "Add Premium Channels & More." Then select Sports Extra, and click "+ADD." The next pop-up lets you confirm your purchase. The add-on should be accessible immediately, but you may need to restart your device to begin watching.
Unfortunately, there's not currently a free trial for Sling TV, so you'll have to sign up for at least a month to try out its sports coverage.
DVR Plus ($5/mo.)
All Sling TV plans include 50 hours of DVR. However, if you want to record a lot of games you don't have time to watch live, 50 hours might not do the trick. The DVR Plus add-on costs $5/mo. and boosts your recording time to 200 hours. This is also a handy feature if you prefer watching games without commercials.
For sports fans, it's important to note that Sling TV's DVR won't work with Local Now, ESPN3, ACC Network Extra and SEC Network+. You'll always have to catch games on those channels live.
Total TV Deal ($21/mo.)
Sling TV also offers an "all-in-one" package that includes seven of its sports add-ons alongside a host of other entertainment and news channels, such as MTV, Disney Junior, BBC World News, VH1, Reelz, and Sportsman Channel. It costs $21/mo. with Sling Orange or Blue or $27/mo., if you have the combined plan.
If you want to use Sling TV as your main TV package, this might be a good buy. The Total TV Deal includes Sports Extra, Kids Extra, News Extra, Lifestyle Extra, Comedy Extra, Hollywood Extra, Heartland Extra, and Cloud DVR Plus.
Sling TV Sports Streaming Pros
Sling TV offers a number of great benefits for sports fans. Here are just a few:
Low Price
Sling TV is one of the least expensive options for live streaming sports. Compared to services like fuboTV that start at $70/mo., Sling TV is a comprehensive sports streaming option at a competitive price point.
Stream on Multiple Devices
Sling Blue and Sling Orange and Blue allow multiple users to watch their favorite sports programming. With both packages, you can stream on three different devices at one time. However, you'll only get one stream per subscription with Sling Orange.
Some Local Channels and RSNs Available
If you're looking for access to local channels and regional sports coverage on Sling TV, Fox networks, and NBC networks are available in some markets on Sling Blue. However, Sling Orange does not feature local channels.
Includes TNT, TBS, and USA Network
Both Sling Orange and Sling Blue feature TNT, TBS, and USA networks. These networks broadcast a variety of sports titles and events, including NHL hockey and English Premier League soccer, and not all streaming services have them available.
Sling TV Sports Streaming Cons
For some fans, Sling TV may not be the ideal sports streaming option. Here are a few of its biggest downsides:
Clunky User Interface
Sling TV's user interface gets the job done, but it's not as intuitive, user-friendly, or sleek as some of the other streaming services. There might be a slight learning curve when you first subscribe.
Limited Access to Regional Sports Networks
Although Sling TV does include access to some Fox and NBC regional networks, CBS and ABC are both missing from this service, as are major regional sports networks, like Bally Sports. If your team plays on a specific channel, it's a good idea to check if it's available before signing up for Sling TV.
Some Sports Networks are Unavailable
Although Sling TV is on the less-expensive end of the streaming options, this platform lacks many sports networks you might find with competitors like fuboTV. Galavision, MAVTV, Stadium, and Zona Futbol are all missing on Sling TV, and many competitors offer more sports add-ons.
Our Final Recommendation
For affordable live TV streaming, Sling TV isn't a bad bet for sports fans. It offers a flexible selection of sports programming, along with add-ons that you can stack on to get sports coverage that rivals most other streaming plans.
The basic plans are also much more affordable than cable TV, so if you can find the channels you want on this service, it may be a highly affordable way to follow your favorite teams and sports. However, if you want to maximize all possible sports coverage, competitors like fuboTV may offer more complete coverage.
FAQs
Can you watch all sports on Sling? ›
All of your favorite sports are on Sling.
Check out our recommended channel lineup to get the most live sports below, or keep scrolling to find which service you need for your favorite sport. From college to pro, soccer to football, it's all on Sling!
Sling Orange is a great option because it has your ESPN coverage, but Sling Blue caters to the NFL and Undisputed fans. Sling Orange includes the following sports channels: ESPN. ESPN2.
What is the downside of Sling TV? ›| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Pricing is significantly cheaper than top competitors. | Only partial access to local channels |
| Compatible with all major streaming devices | Confusing channel packages |
To navigate the grid, move up, down, left, or right to see what's currently streaming or coming up on each channel, up to seven days in advance. To see a description of a program, highlight it in the guide, then select it.
What is included in the Sling sports package? ›- Fox Sports 1.
- NFL Network.
- NBC Sports Network (NBCSN)
- Stadium.
- TNT.
There are also several college sports-focused channels included from Sling TV: ACC Network, BIG TEN Network, Longhorn Network, PAC 12 Network, SEC Network and SEC+. You also score beIN Sports, Golf, MLB Network, MLB Strikezone, NHL Network,Olympic Network, Outside TV, and Tennis Channel.
Does Sling have every NFL game? ›...
Sling Blue, Orange + Blue.
| Sling Blue, Orange + Blue | |
|---|---|
| Washington Redskins | X |
How much does Sports Extra cost? Sports Extra is $11/month in addition to the cost of your Sling Orange or Sling Blue base service. Note: Sports Extra is $15 when added to a Sling Orange + Sling Blue subscription.
How can I watch live football on Sling? ›Missing a game isn't an option for most football fans. Get Sling Blue + Sports Extra for the best deal for NFL coverage. FOX and NBC local stations are available in only the select markets listed below. Also, you can add Sling Orange to get Monday Night Football coverage on ESPN.
Is there anything better than Sling TV? ›Hulu + Live TV is one of the best Sling TV alternatives available. It costs more than a Sling Orange + Blue + DVR, but carries more channels and has better features overall.
What is better Hulu or Sling? ›
For most people, Hulu + Live TV is a better option than Sling TV because of its superior channel lineup, technical capabilities, and on-demand library.
What happened to the Sling guide? ›Now, the company is making another subtle change — this time to the display of the Grid Guide itself. Sling has now made each row in the guide uniform and made each row a bit smaller. That means that you can now see up to eight channels at once in the grid, up from the previous total of five.
Can you reorder channels on Sling? ›You can arrange channels on Sling TV by genre, such as sports, kids, lifestyle, premium, and others. You can also filter your favorite stations if you have them set up on your “My TV” interface by adding or removing them. You can also arrange your channels by adding the “My Channels” ribbon on your TV interface.
Can you rewind live TV on Sling? ›“Time-shifting,” or the ability to pause and rewind live TV, as well as the ability to fast-forward through paused programming (otherwise known as Player Controls) is available on all* US-based channels in Sling Blue, Sling Orange and their corresponding Extras.
How do I get NBC sports on Sling? ›What package is NBC Sports on Sling? You can stream NBC's Sports channel with the help of Sling TV. And you have to pay for the Sling TV's Blue which costs $35 as monthly charges.
Is Sling TV worth getting? ›Sling TV is a great choice if you want to pay a low price for popular live channels, with customizable add-ons that you can opt into if you're willing to pay the extra price.
Is Sling TV good for NFL? ›Sling TV enables you to watch NFL games that air on your local FOX or NBC channel, as well as Monday Night Football on ESPN.
Is Sling or Hulu better? ›For most people, Hulu + Live TV is a better option than Sling TV because of its superior channel lineup, technical capabilities, and on-demand library.
Does Sling TV blackout local sports? ›Some games may be blacked out due to local blackout rules, or because Sling TV doesn't have the rights to broadcast a game. Impacted subscribers will not be able to watch the game unless it is also on a local broadcast network, available either through your Sling TV subscription, or with an over-the-air antenna.
Does Sling TV have live NFL games? ›Get Sling Blue + Sports Extra for the best deal for NFL coverage. FOX and NBC local stations are available in only the select markets listed below. Also, you can add Sling Orange to get Monday Night Football coverage on ESPN.