The age of Internet TV is upon us. Dish Network announced the launch of Sling TV at CES 2015. Sling TV, not to be confused with Slingbox or its parent company, looks to bring streaming TV to your home. Streaming technology is getting better and better thanks to the push by Netflix to get content to anyone who has a Wi-Fi cable device, whether it’s a TV, phone or tablet.
Sling TV is one of the first experiments in streaming TV channels to mobile devices, focusing on a handful of networks Dish thinks is in the target demographic. Let’s look at how Sling TV changes the game and may force companies like Netflix and Redbox to examine whether they want to dive into live TV.
Sling TV by Dish
Sling TV is currently available by invitation only. It costs $20/month and will get you access to the following cable channels:
- Disney Channel
- ESPN
- ESPN2
- Cartoon Network
- CNN
- Food Network
- Adult Swim
- HGTV
- TBS
- TNT
ESPN alone is a big deal for the launch and success of Sling TV, considering it’s the number one cable program in the United States. While Dish has hinted that ESPN and ESPN2 won’t be fully available to consumers thanks to Verizon, it’ll be interesting to see how they can hopefully, negotiate full access to the sports networks.
While you may never see the big four networks – ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC – come to Sling TV, you may see other networks, such as Comedy Central and AMC jump on board if it proves to be a success. Many cable channels, especially the big ones, either utilize their own streaming access or bundle it with cable providers, like Comcast and AT&T. Until Dish proves this can work, hoping that other cable and satellite providers can’t do it better, you may not see much of a line-up change in the coming year.
Sling TV works with no contracts, so you can come and go as you please. Sling TV works as a complete over-the-top Internet service, which means you can bring it with you anywhere and through a variety of devices, such as:
- Amazon Fire TV
- Amazon Fire TV Stick
- Google Nexus Player
- LG Smart TVs
- OS X
- Roku
- Windows PCs
- Xbox One
While more platforms and streaming devices may jump on board, again, Dish is venturing out into unknown streaming waters. It’ll take time to see if it’s worth $20 a month and whether or not the subscription base will benefit cable channels and platforms waiting to see if the idea sinks or swims.
Dish also will be rolling out a variety of video-on-demand, genre channels and other content as time goes on to supplement its live TV offering.
Summing Up
For cord cutters and cost savers, Sling TV could prove to be a big benefit in the home but for now, it’s hard to tell whether Dish’s attempt to bring streaming TV to consumers will work or not.
If ESPN can be added full-time, despite the conflict with Verizon, it may be worth it alone to try it out for sports fans. For everyone else, it really depends on how you stack Sling TV with your other streaming services, such as Netflix and Hulu.
