Sling TV adds a-la-carte channels as base price rises

By Chris Davies/June 28, 2018 11:45 am EST

Sling TV has raised its base price by $5 a month, though it's hoping a new array of channel subscription options will encourage cord-cutters to stick around. The new Sling TV includes a set of free content that users without an active subscription will be able to watch, along with the company's take on Amazon Channels.

First, the bad news. The Sling TV Orange entry-level tier is getting a price increase, rising from the previous $20/mo subscription to $25/mo. Both new sign-ups and existing subscribers will be affected.

That gets you 32 different channels, including ESPN, Disney, and Cartoon Network. Sling Blue remains at $25/mo, swapping out things like the sports networks in favor of FX, Bravo, and FS1. Subscribing to both Orange and Blue packages is still $40/mo, a 20-percent cut on the individual pricing.

As for the Sling TV free content, there'll be what the company describes as more than 100 hours of shows and movies to view. That'll include "Wrecked," "The Detour," "Good Behavior," "Flip or Flop," and more, it's said. There'll be new menus dedicated to free content, too, so it won't be buried among the premium fare, though Sling TV is clearly hoping to coax former subscribers back into coughing up a monthly fee.

The biggest change, though, is à la carte channels. Effectively Sling TV's version of the surprisingly popular Amazon Channels, both subscribers to Sling TV Orange and Blue will be able to access them, and those without a base subscription. Showtime, for instance, will cost you $10 per month. An NBA League Pass is $28.99 per month.

Three new on-demand networks are also joining the Sling TV line-up. Alongside the existing CuriosityStream, at $6/mo, and Pantaya, at $6/mo, there's now the Dove Channel and Outside TV Features, both $5/mo, and Stingray Karaoke, which is $7/mo. More à la carte channels will be added in the coming months, the company says.

Also coming are various pay-per-view events, building on Sling TV's previous UFC and other content. There'll also be movies that can be bought, again without requiring a subscription. The initial catalog will be around 5,000 titles, though again more are said to be in the pipeline.

Those with Roku devices will be the first to see the new channels, with an update being pushed out to the streaming sticks from today. The new UI will roll out to other platforms in the near future.