In the evolving world of streaming, Sling TV continues to be a top choice for cord-cutters seeking a flexible and affordable way to watch live television. As of mid-2025, Sling’s channel packages and pricing have been updated to reflect new content partnerships and market trends. The core of Sling’s offering remains its two distinct base plans, Sling Orange and Sling Blue, which are designed to cater to different viewing preferences. The service also features a growing library of add-on packages and premium channels, allowing for extensive customization.
This comprehensive guide will break down everything you need to know about Sling TV’s channel lineup in 2025, from the channels in each base plan to the various add-ons and a la carte options available. We’ll also cover the key differences between the packages to help you decide which is the best fit for your household.
Sling TV’s Main Packages: Orange vs. Blue
Sling TV’s main appeal lies in its split-package model. Instead of a single, monolithic bundle, the service offers two distinct paths, each priced at $45.99 per month as of mid-2025. While both plans share a number of popular channels, they each have exclusive offerings that cater to different audiences. This is a crucial distinction to understand before you subscribe.
Sling Orange ($45.99/mo)
Sling Orange is tailored for sports fans and families, with a strong emphasis on channels owned by Disney. This plan is ideal for a single person or a small family as it only allows for one stream at a time. This means you can only watch on one device at a time, so if you’re a sports fan, you’ll need to coordinate with anyone else who wants to watch. The main draw for Sling Orange is its exclusive access to the ESPN family of networks.
Exclusive Channels on Sling Orange:
- ESPN
- ESPN2
- ESPN3
- Disney Channel
- Freeform
- MotorTrend
In addition to these exclusives, Sling Orange also includes many of the shared channels found on Sling Blue, such as CNN, AMC, TBS, TNT, and Food Network. The one-stream limitation is the biggest drawback for this package, but for dedicated sports viewers, it’s often a worthwhile trade-off.
Sling Blue ($45.99/mo)
Sling Blue, on the other hand, is a better fit for news junkies and entertainment lovers. This package offers a higher number of channels and is particularly useful for households with multiple viewers, as it allows for up to three simultaneous streams. This is the plan you want if you have roommates or a family with different viewing habits.
Exclusive Channels on Sling Blue:
- Bravo
- Discovery Channel
- E!
- FX
- FS1 (FOX Sports 1)
- MSNBC
- National Geographic
- NFL Network
- SYFY
- TLC
- truTV
- USA Network
Sling Blue also includes local channels like NBC and FOX in select markets, which is a major advantage for those looking to get live news and primetime network programming without an antenna. This is a key difference from Sling Orange, which does not include these local affiliates. The higher number of streams and the focus on news and entertainment makes Sling Blue a more versatile option for many households.
Sling Orange & Blue: The Best of Both Worlds
For those who don’t want to choose between ESPN and the NFL Network, Sling offers a combined plan. Sling Orange & Blue merges the exclusive channels from both base packages into one comprehensive lineup. Priced at $60.99 per month, this package gives you access to a total of over 50 channels, including all the exclusives from both plans.
A key benefit of this combined package is the streaming capability. You get the best of both worlds: one stream for the Sling Orange-exclusive channels and up to three streams for the Sling Blue-exclusive and shared channels. This means a total of four simultaneous streams, though the Orange-exclusive channels are still limited to one at a time. This plan is an excellent value for larger households with diverse viewing interests, covering everything from live sports to reality TV and breaking news.
A Full List of Shared Channels in 2025
While the exclusive channels define each base plan, many popular networks are available on both Sling Orange and Sling Blue. This list includes a mix of news, entertainment, and lifestyle channels that form the core of the Sling TV experience, no matter which package you choose.
Here is a list of some of the most prominent channels available on both Sling Orange and Sling Blue as of mid-2025:
| Channel Name | Genre |
|---|---|
| A&E | Entertainment |
| AMC | Entertainment/Movies |
| BBC America | News/Entertainment |
| CNN | News |
| Comedy Central | Comedy |
| Food Network | Lifestyle |
| History Channel | Documentary |
| HGTV | Home & Garden |
| Lifetime | Entertainment |
| TNT | Entertainment/Movies |
| TBS | Entertainment/Comedy |
| Travel Channel | Lifestyle |
This selection provides a solid foundation of content for any viewer, covering a wide range of interests from home improvement shows on HGTV to movies and dramas on AMC and TNT. The consistency of these channels across both plans ensures that no matter which package you choose, you’ll still get a reliable and entertaining lineup.
Sling TV Add-Ons: Extras and Premium Channels
Sling TV’s customizable nature is one of its biggest selling points. In addition to the base plans, you can enhance your subscription with various add-on packages and premium channels. These “Extras” are themed channel bundles that allow you to focus on specific genres, while premium channels can be added a la carte.
Sling Extras
Each Sling Extra package costs an additional $6 per month, with the exception of the Sports Extra, which is $11, and the Total TV Deal, which bundles all the Extras and DVR Plus for $21. These packages vary slightly between Sling Orange and Sling Blue, offering exclusive channels in each. The most popular extras include:
- Sports Extra: A must-have for any sports fanatic. The Orange version adds channels like SEC Network, ACC Network, and ESPNU, while the Blue version includes NFL RedZone, Big Ten Network, and FS2. Both share MLB Network, NBA TV, and NHL Network.
- News Extra: Expands your news coverage with channels like BBC World News, News Nation, and CNBC (on Blue). This is perfect for staying up-to-date with a wide variety of news sources.
- Entertainment Extra: Adds popular networks like MTV, Paramount Network, and TV Land. The Orange and Blue versions have some unique offerings, such as Paramount Network on both and Logo on Blue.
- Lifestyle Extra: Focuses on lifestyle programming with channels like Magnolia Network, Hallmark Channel, and FYI.
A la Carte Premium Channels
Beyond the themed Extras, Sling TV allows you to subscribe to premium movie and entertainment services directly through its platform. This is a convenient way to consolidate your subscriptions and watch content within the Sling app. The pricing for these channels can vary, but here are some of the most popular options and their approximate monthly costs:
- Max: $16.99/mo (includes access to the Max app)
- Paramount+ with SHOWTIME: $10/mo
- STARZ: $10.99/mo
- MGM+: $5/mo
- AMC+: $8.99/mo
- Discovery+: $4.99/mo
These premium channels can be added to any Sling base package, giving you access to top-tier original series, movies, and documentaries without a separate subscription. For instance, if you’re a fan of HBO shows, adding Max to your Sling plan is a seamless way to access their full library.
Sling Freestream and Short-Term Passes
For budget-conscious viewers or those who just want to dip their toes in, Sling offers a completely free, ad-supported tier called Sling Freestream. This service provides a rotating selection of over 600 live channels and thousands of on-demand titles with no subscription or credit card required. While it doesn’t include the big-name premium or exclusive channels, it’s a great way to access a variety of content from news and reality TV to classic movies.
In mid-2025, Sling also introduced new short-term passes, which are an innovative approach to live TV. These passes offer a flexible, non-committal way to access the Sling Orange lineup for a limited time. This is particularly useful for major sporting events or weekend-long movie marathons. The new passes include a:
- Day Pass: $4.99 for 24-hour access.
- Weekend Pass: $9.99 for access from Friday to Sunday.
- Week Pass: $14.99 for 7-day access.
You can even add Sling Extras to these passes for a small, one-time fee, making them an excellent choice for catching a specific game or event without the commitment of a full monthly subscription. This level of flexibility is unmatched by most other streaming services and further solidifies Sling’s position as a consumer-friendly option.
How to Choose the Right Sling TV Package
With so many options, choosing the right Sling TV package can seem daunting, but it boils down to your personal viewing habits and the needs of your household. Here’s a quick breakdown to help you decide:
If you are a solo viewer or a sports enthusiast who primarily watches ESPN-affiliated channels, Sling Orange is likely your best choice. It’s the most affordable entry point for live sports. However, be mindful of the one-stream limitation. If you’re a family with different tastes or if you and a roommate want to watch different shows at the same time, Sling Blue is the better option due to its three-stream capability and broader entertainment and news lineup. You can also pick up local channels in select markets, which is a big bonus.
For a household that wants it all—from the NFL to college football to family-friendly programming—the Sling Orange & Blue combined package offers the most comprehensive lineup and the highest number of streams. It is the best value for a large household with diverse entertainment needs.
Regardless of your base plan, you can always customize your package with the a la carte add-ons and premium channels. This modular approach ensures that you only pay for the content you actually want to watch. Whether you’re a die-hard sports fan, a news aficionado, or a reality TV binge-watcher, Sling TV has a package and an add-on combination that is right for you in 2025.
In summary, Sling TV’s channel lineup in 2025 remains a highly competitive and flexible alternative to traditional cable. By offering distinct base packages, a wealth of add-ons, and new short-term passes, Sling empowers subscribers to build a personalized streaming experience that fits their budget and their viewing habits. Understanding the key differences between the Sling Orange and Sling Blue plans is the first step to unlocking a streaming service that truly feels like it was built for you.