Sling TV is one of the most flexible live TV streaming services available, built around the idea that you should only pay for what you actually watch. Instead of a single bloated bundle, Sling gives you two distinct base packages — Orange and Blue — each targeting different viewing habits, with the option to combine them or layer on add-ons for specific genres.
This guide covers the complete Sling TV channel list for both packages, every add-on bundle, premium channel pricing, local channel availability, DVR options, and a clear breakdown of which plan makes sense for your household.
Sling TV Pricing at a Glance
| Plan | Price/mo | Channels | Streams | Best For |
| Sling Orange | $40/mo | 34+ | 1 | Solo sports/ESPN viewers |
| Sling Blue | $45/mo | 46+ | 3 | Households, news & entertainment |
| Sling Orange + Blue | $60/mo | 50+ | 4 | Families with varied tastes |
| Sling Select | $56.99/mo | 50+ | 3 | Sports + news combo focus |
| Sling Freestream | Free | 600+ | — | Budget viewers, no commitment |
Sling Orange Channel List
Sling Orange is built around the Disney and ESPN family of networks. It is the only Sling plan that includes ESPN, making it the go-to for live sports fans. The major drawback is the one-stream limit — only one device can watch at a time.
Channels exclusive to Sling Orange:
- ESPN
- ESPN2
- ESPN3
- ESPNU (with Sports Extra add-on)
- SEC Network (with Sports Extra)
- ACC Network (with Sports Extra)
- Disney Channel
- Disney Junior
- Freeform
- MotorTrend
- Cartoon Network
Channels on both Sling Orange and Blue:
- A&E
- AMC
- BBC America
- BET
- Bloomberg TV
- CNN
- Comedy Central
- Food Network
- Hallmark Channel (with Lifestyle Extra)
- HGTV
- History Channel
- IFC
- Lifetime
- TBS
- TNT
- Travel Channel
- VH1
- WE tv
Sling Blue Channel List
Sling Blue offers more channels, three simultaneous streams, and access to local NBC and FOX affiliates in select markets. It is the better fit for households where multiple people want to watch different things at the same time. If you also want to pin live sports scores to your phone while streaming, Sling Blue’s broader sports coverage pairs well with that setup.
Channels exclusive to Sling Blue:
- NBC (select markets)
- FOX (select markets)
- ABC (select markets)
- Bravo
- Discovery Channel
- E!
- FX
- FXX
- FS1 (FOX Sports 1)
- FS2 (with Sports Extra)
- NFL Network
- NFL RedZone (with Sports Extra)
- Big Ten Network (with Sports Extra)
- MSNBC
- National Geographic
- Nat Geo Wild
- SYFY
- TLC
- truTV
- USA Network
- Oxygen
- Olympics Channel
Sling Blue also carries all the shared channels listed above in the Orange section — CNN, AMC, HGTV, Food Network, History, TBS, TNT, and the rest.
Sling Orange vs Blue: Full Comparison
| Feature | Sling Orange | Sling Blue |
| Price | $40/mo | $45/mo |
| Total channels | 34+ | 46+ |
| Simultaneous streams | 1 | 3 |
| ESPN / ESPN2 | ✔ | ✘ |
| Disney Channel | ✔ | ✘ |
| NFL Network | ✘ | ✔ |
| FS1 / FOX Sports 1 | ✘ | ✔ |
| Local NBC / FOX / ABC | ✘ | ✔ (select markets) |
| Bravo / E! / TLC | ✘ | ✔ |
| MSNBC | ✘ | ✔ |
| Discovery / Nat Geo | ✘ | ✔ |
| CNN / HGTV / Food Network | ✔ | ✔ |
| AMC / TNT / TBS | ✔ | ✔ |
Sling Orange + Blue Combined Package
Sling Orange + Blue merges both lineups into one plan at $60/mo. You get every exclusive from both packages — ESPN and NFL Network in the same subscription — plus up to four simultaneous streams (one for Orange-exclusive channels, three for Blue and shared channels).
This is the right plan if your household needs ESPN for college football and NFL Network for game-day coverage, or if you have kids who want Disney Channel while someone else watches Bravo or Discovery. At $60/mo it is $20–25 less than most competitors charge for a comparable channel count.
Sling TV Add-On Packages
Every Sling base plan supports add-on bundles called Extras. Each Extra costs $6/mo except Sports Extra ($11/mo) and the Total TV Deal ($21/mo, includes all Extras plus DVR Plus).
Sports Extra
The most popular add-on, and the channel list varies by base plan:
Sports Extra on Sling Orange adds:
- ESPNU
- SEC Network
- ACC Network
- Longhorn Network
- MLB Network
- NBA TV
- NHL Network
- Golf Channel
Sports Extra on Sling Blue adds:
- NFL RedZone
- FS2
- Big Ten Network
- MLB Network
- NBA TV
- NHL Network
- Golf Channel
- Outside TV
Entertainment Extra
Adds lifestyle and pop culture channels including MTV, Paramount Network, TV Land, CMT, and Logo. Good for reality TV and general entertainment fans who want more than the base lineup covers.
News Extra
Expands news coverage with BBC World News, NewsNation, and CNBC (Blue only). Worth adding if you follow international news or want financial news coverage beyond CNN.
Lifestyle Extra
Adds Magnolia Network, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, FYI, and DIY Network. Targets home, cooking, and feel-good programming fans.
Kids Extra
Adds Nicktoons, TeenNick, Baby TV, and Nick Jr. Best for households with younger children who have exhausted the Disney Channel content in Sling Orange.
Hollywood Extra
Adds Sundance Now, IFC Films Unlimited, and other indie and film-focused channels. Niche pick for cinephiles.
Premium Channel Add-Ons
Beyond the genre bundles, Sling lets you add individual premium services directly to your plan. If you are comparing this to a standalone Netflix free trial or subscription, stacking a premium channel on Sling can be a cheaper alternative for on-demand movie content.
| Channel | Price/mo |
| Max (HBO) | $16.99 |
| Paramount+ with Showtime | $10.00 |
| STARZ | $10.99 |
| MGM+ | $5.00 |
| AMC+ | $8.99 |
| Discovery+ | $4.99 |
Local Channels on Sling TV
Local channel availability is one of Sling’s most asked-about features. Here is the current situation:
Sling Blue includes NBC, FOX, and ABC in select markets at no extra cost. Enter your ZIP code on Sling’s local channels page to check availability in your area.
CBS is not included in any Sling base plan. To watch CBS live, you need either a digital antenna or a separate Paramount+ with Showtime subscription.
If your market is not covered, Sling offers an AirTV device that pairs with a digital antenna to bring local over-the-air channels into the Sling interface. This gives you local channels integrated with your Sling guide without a separate input.
Local channels that are available start at $24.99/mo as a standalone local add-on for markets where Sling Blue does not carry them natively.
Sling TV DVR
Every Sling paid plan includes 50 hours of cloud DVR storage at no extra charge. You can upgrade to DVR Plus for an additional $5/mo, which expands storage to 200 hours and lets you fast-forward through commercials on recorded content.
Important DVR limitations to know:
- Some channels cannot be recorded — these include Local Now, SEC Network+, and Pluto TV
- Recorded content is stored for 9 days by default on the free tier
- DVR Plus extends storage duration significantly
- The Total TV Deal bundles DVR Plus with all Extras for $21/mo
Sling Freestream — The Free Option
Sling Freestream is a completely free, ad-supported tier that requires no credit card and no subscription. It gives you access to over 600 live channels and more than 40,000 on-demand titles covering news, reality TV, classic movies, and niche categories. You can also use it to watch shows like Futurama online through its on-demand library without paying anything.
It does not include ESPN, NFL Network, or any of the premium cable channels from the paid plans. Think of it as a free sampler — good for casual viewing but not a replacement for a paid plan if you want live sports or current-season TV.
You can access Freestream through the Sling TV app on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, iOS, and Android without creating an account.
Sling Short-Term Passes
For one-time events like a playoff game or a weekend movie marathon, Sling offers passes that do not require a monthly commitment:
- Day Pass: $4.99 for 24-hour access
- Weekend Pass: $9.99 for Friday through Sunday access
- Week Pass: $14.99 for 7-day access
These passes give you access to Sling Orange channels and can be enhanced with Extras for a one-time fee. Useful for March Madness, NFL playoffs, or any event where you need live sports for a short window. For viewers who travel frequently, pairing a short-term pass with one of the best international phone plans keeps you covered for streaming abroad as well.
Sling TV Compatible Devices
Sling TV works on a wide range of devices:
- Roku (all models)
- Amazon Fire TV and Fire Stick
- Apple TV (4th gen and later)
- Google Chromecast / Google TV
- Android TV and Google TV smart TVs
- Samsung smart TVs
- LG smart TVs
- Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
- iOS (iPhone and iPad)
- Android phones and tablets
- Web browser (sling.com)
Which Sling TV Package Should You Choose?
Choose Sling Orange if: You primarily watch ESPN sports, you are a solo viewer, and the one-stream limit is not a problem for your household.
Choose Sling Blue if: You have multiple people watching at once, you want local NBC and FOX, or your viewing is more focused on news and entertainment than ESPN sports.
Choose Sling Orange + Blue if: Your household wants both ESPN and NFL Network, you need four streams, or you have kids who want Disney Channel alongside adult viewers watching other networks.
Start with Freestream if: You want to test the Sling interface and content catalog before committing to a paid plan.
The modular approach means you are never locked into more than you need. Start with one base plan, add the relevant Extras for your genres, and add premium channels only when you have a specific reason to watch them.
Sling TV vs Competitors
| Service | Starting Price | Channels | DVR | Streams |
| Sling Orange | $40/mo | 34+ | 50 hrs free | 1 |
| Sling Blue | $45/mo | 46+ | 50 hrs free | 3 |
| YouTube TV | $72.99/mo | 100+ | Unlimited | 3 |
| Hulu + Live TV | $82.99/mo | 90+ | Unlimited | 2 |
| FuboTV | $84.99/mo | 165+ | 1,000 hrs | 10 |
Sling is consistently the lowest-priced entry point in the live TV streaming market. The trade-off is fewer channels and no CBS. For viewers who do not need CBS and want to keep costs low, Sling is hard to beat. If you also use other streaming services, knowing how to change Netflix video quality and data usage settings alongside Sling can help manage your total bandwidth across multiple platforms.
