SlingTV opens to the public today without invites!
/
From GigaOM today:
“Sling TV, the online TV streaming service from Dish Networks, is now available to everyone: The service ended its invitation-only soft launch late Sunday night and began to accept sign-ups from everyone on its website.
Sling offers consumers live access to a total of 15 channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, TBS, CNN, HGTV, Cartoon Network and others for $20 a month. New to this basic package are Galavision, El Rey Network and a channel for Maker Studios content, which had been previously announced but initially wasn’t part of the invite-only beta test. AMC is going to be added to the base package soon, according to a Sling TV press release. There’s no word yet on whether Sling will also add other channels that are part of the AMC Networks family, including IFC, Sundance TV and WE TV.
Sling subscribers can elect to add more channels through three different add-on packages that cost $5 each. These include a news and information package, a kids and family package and a sports add-on package that offers access to additional ESPN channels and a few other sports networks. As of Monday, subscribers will also be able to use ESPN’s WatchESPN apps, but the content available to them will depend on their individual subscription: Sling TV’s base package unlocks ESPN1, ESPN2 and ESPN3 streams, whereas the added sports package will provide access to more content.”
As someone who has considered cutting the cord more than once. This seems like just about the perfect service. Most of my viewing these days is Youtube, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video via my Roku box.
Coupled with an HDTV antenna for local channels, the only things that I would be interested in that aren't offered here is an extended selection of news channels (MSNBC, Al Jazeera, Fox, C-Span), and the Discovery group of channels (Discovery, History, Science channels) and possibly The Weather Channel. If this service takes off, I don't see much reason why those won't show up eventually too. Since they are offering a free 7-day trial, I expect I will give it a shot.