Dish Network’s Sling Media division offers a line of products that let you stream your personal media over the internet. Want to watch recording from your TiVo on your smartphone? A Slingbox and SlingPlayer app will let you do that.

Now Dish is launching something new: Sling TV is a service that lets you stream live TV without paying for cable. Just pony up $20 per month and you can get a package with access to live content from ESPN, Cartoon Network, HGTV, TBS, TNT, and a Disney, among others.

sling tv

Sling TV is clearly aimed at so-called cord cutters, which are folks who don’t pay for expensive cable or satellite TV packages. Sure, you’ll still need to pay someone for cable access (or mooch on your neighbor’s WiFi) to use Sling TV, but depending on where you live and what internet service providers operate in you area, Sling TV could save you some money while providing access to live sports events and other content.

You won’t get all the channels available from traditional cable. There’s no AMC or FX, as TechCrunch points out. Nor can you stream broadcast network content from ABC, CBS, NBC, or Fox. But if you’re a true cord cutter you may already be getting programs from those networks through an antenna (or Hulu).

Sling TV will offer some on-demand content as well as live video streams. But there’s no DVR feature. If you want to save TV shows to watch later, you’ll need a different solution.

You won’t need to buy hardware from Dish to use Sling TV when it launches. You’ll be able to use apps for iOS or Android or smart TV devices including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Google Nexus Player, and Xbox One devices.

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10 replies on “Sling TV: Live TV for $20 per month – no cable package required”

    1. I think you’re missing the point of this. It isn’t for broadcast channels. It’s cable channels over the internet. This is huge for me and other cord cutters that are also sports fans as ESPN is included.

        1. Okay, but it’s still not a fair to compare it to an OTA DVR that can’t get the content.

          1. Your original comment was “What a waste unless you can record antenna that’s connected” which makes no sense. The service isn’t advertising DVR capabilities nor is it for OTA broadcasts. I understand that you’re trying to wedge in some traffic to your youtube videos but at least make it relevant.

          2. What I should have said Yes watch my video for OTA and record but what I’m saying with sling/dish setup yes u can watch sports but you can’t record it
            What they should have invented is a way to hook up OTA and a DVR feature or service
            Mr lee I’m just trying to give the cord cutters what they want . A total cable killer not a half ass one

          3. Who the hell records sports?!? You wanna talk about useless… “oh but you can’t record sports, cuz that’s what everyone really wants” said no one ever.

          4. off course you want to record not only sports but all shows your not able to watch live. plus no local channels! ok get sling live tv then also get a tablo so you can fill in the blanks. end of discussion.

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