Sling TV Guide 2023: Full Channel Lineup and Packages

Sling TV is the most comprehensive and reasonably priced cable alternative. At $40 a month, there’s no better way to catch all your favorite sports, news, and entertainment content without a contract.

If you are thinking about trying the service, our guide will tell you exactly what channels you get with each Sling TV package. We’ll also discuss the cost and local channels so you can choose the best package for you.

How Much is Sling a Month?

The live TV streaming service is one of the more affordable cable replacements. It has two base packages to choose from, including Orange and Blue.

Here is how much Sling TV costs per month:

• Orange cost = $40 per month
• Blue cost = $40 per month
• Orange + Blue cost = $55 per month

A low monthly cost is what makes the platform one of the most popular cable TV alternatives.

*For a limited time, save over $100 when you select Sling’s Season Pass offer, when you prepay for five months. This gives you Sling Orange + Blue plus their Sports Extra Add-on, which includes SEC, ACC, and PAC-12 Networks, ESPNU, NFL RedZone, and more*

What Channels Does Sling TV Carry?

There are two main channel packages. These are Sling TV Orange and Sling TV Blue. While some popular networks like A&E and CNN are in both Sling TV packages, other important ones like ESPN and FS1 are not.

The service also bundles both Orange and Blue into one package. This provides you access to all of its channels for a lower price ($50) than buying both Sling TV plans separately, which would cost $70.

Orange Channel List

Of all the programming available on Sling TV Orange channels, there is one channel that people look for more than any other – ESPN.

If you want to stream ESPN live without cable, you must choose either Orange or Orange + Blue.

The Orange Channel plan list currently comes with 32 channels, including AMC, CNN, ESPN, Food Network, and TBS.

Here’s a complete list of the channels you’ll get with Sling Orange:

As you can see, the Orange channel lineup offers a good variety of content, from news to sports to lifestyle and entertainment channels. It also has programming for kids.

One drawback of the Sling Orange plan is that it only allows you to watch content on one screen at a time.

Other plans let you stream Sling TV on up to three or four screens at once. If that’s important to you, you may want to opt for the Blue or Orange + Blue plan.

Blue Channel List

If you can live without ESPN, Sling Blue is a good choice for major cable networks across news, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle TV at a reasonable cost.

Not only will you enjoy FOX Sports 1, but you’ll also get NBC Sports Network and the NFL Network, making the Blue channel package a terrific option for sports fans.

Another highlight of Sling Blue is that it allows you to watch TV on up to three screens simultaneously.

For example, this means you can watch sports on your TV while someone else watches HGTV on a laptop and yet another person watches cartoons on a tablet.

These are the channels you’ll receive if you opt for Sling Blue:

In addition to sports channels, the Sling TV Blue package also offers more lifestyle and entertainment content from BET, Bravo, Discovery Channel, FX, Nat Geo, Nick Jr, TLC, and USA.

Full Lineup

If you want all of the Sling TV channels available in its base package, the Orange + Blue plan is best. This choice includes up to four simultaneous streams.

Here is the complete Sling TV channel list:

You’ll receive every channel the service offers for only $55 per month. Choose this package if:

• You love live sports and regularly watch games on ESPN
• Someone in your family loves lifestyle programming
• You want more choice for a reasonable monthly cost

Unfortunately, Sling does not usually offer a free trial. However, they do regularly offer various money-saving promotions.

*Note: When you start your subscription, Sling TV will ask you to combine the Blue and Orange channels in your guide to avoid duplicate entries. Do this, or you’ll be confused when you search for programs to watch.

What Are the Sling TV Extra Packages and Add-ons?

Sling TV is the best option for an a la carte TV experience. It offers affordable channel packages, and you can add on additional networks to customize your viewing experience.

Other live streaming services do not offer the level of customization found at Sling. The add-on channel packages available vary depending on whether you have the Blue or Orange plan.

The best thing about Sling’s extra channel packages is that most cost just $6 per month. The Sports Extra package costs $11 per month, or $15 if you have both Sling Blue and Sling Orange.

If you want all of the add-ons, Sling offers this in their Total TV deal for $21 per month, or $27 if you have both Sling Blue and Sling Orange.

*Related: Can’t decide between Hulu Live and Sling TV? Check out our Sling TV vs. Hulu Live guide to see a side-by-side analysis.*

Additionally, If you enjoy premium channels, you don’t need cable to get them. Sling TV lets you easily add them to your base package for an extra monthly fee.

• Comedy Dynamics – $5
• Dox or CuriosityStream – $5
• Epix (four channels) – $5
• Hallmark Movies Now – $6
• Pantaya – $6
• Showtime (nine channels) – $10
• Starz (six channels) – $9
• Up Faith and Family – $5

Despite being a budget service, Sling TV offers a wide selection of channels while being cheaper than paying for cable.

Which Sling Package Has Local Channels?

Local channels are expensive for live TV services to offer. That cost gets passed onto customers.

One reason a Sling TV subscription is so affordable is they don’t offer all local networks. They do offer ABC, FOX, and NBC in some major markets, but only if you select the Sling Blue plan or Orange + Blue.

ABC is a newer addition by Sling. As of March 1, 2023, subscribers in select cities will receive access to ABC. However, it will also increase the Blue package cost to $45 a month.

Here is where you can get ABC with the service.

Here is where you can get FOX with the service.

Here is where you can get NBC with the service.

Read our analysis on ways to watch the live broadcast of NBC without cable to learn about other options.

If local networks are important to you, the best option is to buy an over-the-air antenna. After you buy the antenna, all the local channels in your area are yours and are free for life.

Go to Amazon to find top antenna options.

How Many Hours Can You Record on the Sling DVR?

You can record 50 hours of content with the Sling DVR. If that is not enough recording capacity, you can upgrade to 200 hours for an extra $5 per month.

The cloud DVR option lets you record and watch live TV anytime on your devices as well as your TV.

You can pause and rewind through all recorded content as well as fast-forward through commercials with the DVR.

Recordings are kept for as long as you’re a customer. If you cancel your service and return within 30 days, you can still access recordings.

Another bonus is that you can record multiple shows at once. Sling makes it easy to set up and manage your recordings through the ‘My TV’ portion of its channel guide.

What are the Supported Devices?

Sling TV is supported by a large number of devices and platforms, including all the major ones.

• Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick
• Android TV, phones, and tablets
• Apple TV, Chromecast, Facebook Portal
• Google Chrome, Google Nest HUb, iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch)
• LG TV, Microsoft Edge, Oculus
• Roku, Safari, Samsung Smart TVs
• Windows 10, Xbox, and XfinityX1

Essentially, as long as a device has a screen, it’s likely you can stream content.

*Related: Love college football? Check out our guide on how to stream college football games so you can catch all the action without a pricey contract.*

If you don’t see your device listed, check Sling TV’s website for more details.

Is Sling Worth the Money?

Although it’s a lower-priced service, Sling TV is worth the money. For just $40 a month, you receive dozens of popular sports, lifestyle, and entertainment networks.

It works on virtually any device, and you can fast-forward through commercials on DVR recordings. While it’s not as robust as other streaming services, those features come at a cost of $30 more a month.

If you pair either Sling plan with an antenna, it is one of the best streaming services with live TV to use to save money.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Sling?

Choosing a live TV streaming service isn’t always easy. Here is what to keep in mind when considering Sling.

Pros

• Dozens of popular cable channels
• Affordable way to cut the cord on cable
• Cheap way to stream sports without cable
• Reliable streaming performance
• Easy to navigate platform
• Lots of on-demand content

Cons

• Limited local channels
• Channel lineup can be confusing
• Only 50 hours of DVR recording capacity

If you want to watch TV without cable, Sling TV is worth trying to see if it meets your needs. Read our in-depth Sling review to learn more.

FAQs

Here are some common questions readers have when looking at the Sling TV channels.

How fast does my internet need to be to stream Sling TV?

Shows and movies are best enjoyed at an internet connection of 5.0 megabits per second (Mbps) or higher.

Ideally, 25 Mbps or more is best. If you’re watching on a tablet or phone, you can get away with slightly lower speeds.

Read our guide on minimum speed requirements for streaming services to learn more.

Which Sling TV package is best?

When choosing a streaming service, it is essential to know what you can’t live without. Otherwise, you will experience frustration when watching TV.

If you’re a live sports fan, Sling Orange is best as it includes ESPN for just $40 a month. If you enjoy more lifestyle and news networks, Sling Blue is best.

However, if you’re unsure which plan to pick, you can use their Service Optimizer tool to learn which plan and potential add-ons are best.

Picking a cable replacement can be challenging. Try our free quiz to see which service is best for you.

What does Sling Freestream include?

Sling Freestream is a new option the company introduced at the beginning of 2021. It’s a free offering from the service, and you don’t need to provide a credit card or register to get access.

You don’t receive live TV channels with this service, but it provides over 300 channels and 40,000+ on-demand movies and TV shows. It works with the same supported devices as the paid plans, and you can watch on-demand content at your leisure.

Think of it as Hulu, without the original content.

Can you cancel Sling anytime?

It is possible to cancel Sling TV whenever you wish. There is no contract to get service, so a subscription is month-to-month.

Here is how you can cancel your account:

• Click on the wheel icon in the top right corner of your account
• Select “Manage Account”
• Click the “Cancel Subscription” link
• Give the reason you’re canceling

It only takes several seconds to cancel. Your current paid subscription will run for the remainder of your billing cycle.

For example, if you cancel on October 25 and you paid through November 7, your access will continue until November 7.

Read our step-by-step guide on how to cancel Sling TV to learn more and why pausing your subscription might help.

Are there taxes and fees with Sling TV?

Live TV streaming services often charge taxes and fees, and that is the case with Sling. If you choose either the Orange or Blue plan, your monthly bill should be roughly $42.21, depending on taxes in your city.

If you choose Orange + Blue, your monthly bill will be roughly $58.03.

Your bill will be more if you have any add-on packages. However, given its affordable cost, Sling TV is a good YouTube TV and Hulu Live alternative as it’s roughly half the price of either service.

Read our Sling TV vs. YouTube TV review to learn how the two cable alternatives compare.

Does Sling TV have commercials?

Yes, there are commercials on the service. Expect it to be similar to cable TV in that way.

However, you can fast-forward through commercials on programs you’ve recorded on the cloud-based DVR.

Bottom Line

Sling TV isn’t the most robust streaming service, but it offers a lot of value. It’s a popular service to get ESPN without cable, which is important to a lot of cord-cutters.

The service is the closest to an al a carte experience, which you might find useful. You can take advantage of one of their promotions to see if it’s right for you.

What’s one channel you feel like that you can’t live without?