Sling TV carries over 45 channels on its base plans, with 200+ more available through add-ons and premium upgrades. It launched on February 9, 2015, and remains one of the most affordable live TV streaming services in the U.S. Unlike cable, there’s no contract. Cancel any time.
There are three base plans: Sling Select ($19.99/mo), Sling Orange ($45.99/mo), and Sling Blue ($45.99/mo). You can combine Orange and Blue for $60.99/mo. On top of that, you add extra packs, premium channels, and local options.
This guide breaks down every channel on every plan — including add-ons, sports packages, local availability, and who each plan is actually built for. If you’re also weighing other services, see our full YouTube TV channels list and Hulu TV channels list for side-by-side comparisons.
Sling TV Plans & Pricing — 2026 Overview
| Plan | Price/Month | Est. Channel Count | Streams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sling Select | $19.99 | 10–15 channels | 1 |
| Sling Orange | $45.99 | 30+ channels | 1 |
| Sling Blue | $45.99 | 40+ channels | 3 |
| Orange + Blue | $60.99 | 45+ channels | 4 |
All plans include 50 hours of free cloud DVR. You can upgrade DVR storage separately.
Sling Select — Channel List
Sling Select is the entry-level plan at $19.99/mo. It’s built for budget viewers who want live TV without paying $40–$60/month. The channel count is limited, but it covers basics.
Channels included in Sling Select:
- ESPN
- ESPN2
- Disney Channel
- Disney Junior
- Disney XD
- Freeform
- ACC Network
- SEC Network
- Lifetime
- Lifetime Movie Network
- A&E
- History
Note: Sling Select is ideal if you only care about ESPN and Disney content. It’s essentially the Disney/ESPN bundle in streaming form.
Sling Orange — Full Channel List
Sling Orange costs $45.99/mo and allows 1 simultaneous stream. It’s the only plan with ESPN and ESPN2 in the full plan tier, plus the Disney suite of channels.
Sports Channels — Sling Orange
- ESPN
- ESPN2
- ESPN3 (streaming only)
- ESPN U
- ACC Network
- SEC Network
Entertainment & Lifestyle — Sling Orange
- Disney Channel
- Disney Junior
- Disney XD
- Freeform
- A&E
- History
- Lifetime
- Lifetime Movie Network
- Vice TV
- CMT
- Viceland
- Comedy Central (with Orange add-on tiers — verify your market)
- BBC America
- IFC
- Sundance TV
- WE tv
- El Rey Network
- Flama
- ESPNEWS
- Longhorn Network
Total: approximately 31–33 channels depending on your market.
The 1-stream limit is the biggest downside. If two people in your household want to watch different things at the same time, Sling Orange won’t work alone.
Sling Blue — Full Channel List
Sling Blue also costs $45.99/mo but allows 3 simultaneous streams. It has no ESPN (except through add-ons), but it carries FOX, NBC, and more sports/news options than Orange.
Sports Channels — Sling Blue
- FOX Sports 1 (FS1)
- FOX Sports 2 (FS2)
- NFL Network
- NFL RedZone (with Sports Extra add-on only)
- Golf Channel
- Olympic Channel
- beIN Sports
- TUDN
- Univision Deportes
News Channels — Sling Blue
- Fox News Channel
- MSNBC
- CNN
- HLN
- Bloomberg Television
- Cheddar News
- Newsy
- NBC News Now
Entertainment — Sling Blue
- NBC (in select markets)
- FOX (in select markets)
- Bravo
- E!
- USA Network
- NBCSN (via NBC Sports regional feeds)
- Syfy
- CNBC
- MSNBC
- Oxygen
- The Weather Channel
- TNT
- TBS
- TCM
- truTV
- Cartoon Network
- Adult Swim
- Boomerang
- BET
- MTV
- VH1
- Paramount Network
- Comedy Central
- Nickelodeon
- Nick Jr.
- Nick Toons
- TeenNick
- CMT
- Spike/Paramount Network
- FX
- FXX
- FXM
- National Geographic
- Nat Geo Wild
- HGTV
- Food Network
- TLC
- Discovery Channel
- Animal Planet
- Cooking Channel
- DIY Network
- Travel Channel
- Destination America
- American Heroes Channel
- Science Channel
- Investigation Discovery
- OWN
- Hallmark Channel
- Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
- Hallmark Drama
Total: approximately 40–45 channels depending on your market.
Sling Orange vs. Sling Blue — Key Differences
This is the most-searched comparison on Sling TV. Here’s what actually matters.
Channels Only on Sling Orange
- ESPN
- ESPN2
- ESPNNews
- ESPNU
- ESPN3
- Longhorn Network
- SEC Network
- ACC Network
- Disney Channel
- Disney Junior
- Disney XD
- Freeform
Channels Only on Sling Blue
- NFL Network
- Fox News
- MSNBC
- CNN
- FS1
- FS2
- Golf Channel
- NBC (select markets)
- FOX (select markets)
- Bravo
- E!
- USA Network
- Syfy
- TNT
- TBS
- FX
- FXX
- Nickelodeon
- HGTV
- Food Network
- Discovery Channel
- Hallmark Channel
Channels on Both Plans
- A&E
- History
- Lifetime
- Lifetime Movie Network
- Vice TV
- CMT
- Viceland
- BBC America
- IFC
- Sundance TV
- WE tv
- Comedy Central
Bottom line: If ESPN is your priority, choose Orange. If you want more channels and 3 streams, choose Blue. If you need both, Orange + Blue at $60.99/mo makes sense.
Sling Orange + Blue — The Combo Plan
At $60.99/mo, this gives you everything from both plans — roughly 45–50 channels. You also get 4 simultaneous streams (1 from Orange + 3 from Blue). This is the best option for households with multiple viewers and mixed content needs.
The price difference between buying each separately ($91.98) versus the combo ($60.99) saves you $30.99/month.
Sling TV Add-On Packages
Add-ons let you customize. Every extra pack is optional and priced separately.
Sports Extra — $11/mo
Available with Orange, Blue, or combo. Channels include:
- NFL RedZone
- NBA TV
- MLB Network
- NHL Network
- Golf Channel (if not on base Blue)
- Big Ten Network
- Pac-12 Network (select markets)
- ESPNU (if not on base Orange)
- ESPNews (if not on base Orange)
- Olympic Channel
- Stadium
- Longhorn Network (if not on base)
- beIN Sports
- Outside TV
- Outdoor Channel
- Sportsman Channel
- World Fishing Network
- CBS Sports Network
News Extra — $6/mo
- Euronews
- Newsmax TV
- AWE
- Cheddar News (if not on base)
- i24NEWS
- Local Now (curated local news clips)
Entertainment Extra — $6/mo
Available with Blue or combo. Adds:
- AMC
- IFC (if not on base)
- Sundance TV (if not on base)
- WE tv (if not on base)
- BBC America (if not on base)
- GalaxyTV
- Shout! TV
Hollywood Extra — $6/mo
- Sony Movie Channel
- MGM HD
- Reelz
- UMC (Urban Movie Channel)
- HDNET Movies
- FXM (if not on base)
- Movies! Network
- TCM (if not on base Blue)
Lifestyle Extra — $6/mo
- FYI
- LMN (Lifetime Movie Network — if not on base)
- The Cooking Channel (if not on base)
- DIY Network (if not on base)
- Destination America (if not on base)
- American Heroes Channel
- Science Channel (if not on base)
Kids Add-On — $6/mo
- Baby TV
- Boomerang (if not on base Blue)
- Nick Jr. (if not on base Blue)
- Universal Kids
- Cartoon Network (if not on base Blue)
- TeenNick (if not on base)
International Packages
Sling offers Spanish-language and other international packs including:
- Sling Latino — Spanish-language channels: Univision, UniMás, Galavision, ESPN Deportes, CNN en Español, History en Español, Discovery en Español, and more. Starting around $15/mo.
- Sling International — 200+ international channels covering South Asian, Filipino, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, and European content.
Premium Channel Add-Ons
These are billed through Sling but are standalone streaming services added to your account.
| Premium Channel | Monthly Price | Notable Content |
|---|---|---|
| Max (HBO) | $17.99/mo | HBO, Max Originals |
| Paramount+ with Showtime | $10.99/mo | CBS shows, Showtime movies |
| STARZ | $9.99/mo | Premium movies, Outlander |
| MGM+ | $5.99/mo | MGM library, originals |
| AMC+ | $8.99/mo | AMC shows, Shudder content |
| Discovery+ | $4.99/mo | Reality, nature, true crime |
| EPIX (MGM+) | Bundled with MGM+ | Action movies |
Local Channels on Sling TV — What’s Available & Where
This is the section most guides get wrong. Local channel availability on Sling TV is market-dependent and incomplete. Here’s the honest breakdown.
Networks Available as Locals (in select markets):
- NBC — available in 17+ markets via Sling Blue
- FOX — available in 30+ markets via Sling Blue
- ABC — available in select markets via a partnership
- CBS — NOT available on Sling TV (see below)
- The CW — available in some markets
Why CBS Is Not on Sling TV
CBS and Sling TV have never reached a carriage agreement. That gap has stayed open since Sling launched in 2015. In 2026, CBS is still absent. You have two workarounds:
- Paramount+ with Showtime add-on ($10.99/mo) — gives you CBS content on demand, plus some live CBS in select markets
- OTA antenna — use a digital antenna to get CBS for free over the air. Sling’s AirTV adapter integrates antenna channels directly into the Sling TV app interface
Markets with ABC, FOX, and NBC (Examples):
New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Seattle, Detroit, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Denver, Orlando, Miami, Tampa, Sacramento, Portland, Baltimore, and others. Check Sling TV’s website with your ZIP code for exact market availability.
Sling TV Sports Coverage — Full Breakdown
NFL on Sling TV
- NFL Network — Sling Blue or combo
- NFL RedZone — Sports Extra add-on only
- ESPN Monday Night Football — Sling Orange or combo
- FOX Sunday NFC games — Sling Blue (if FOX is available in your market)
- NBC Sunday Night Football — Sling Blue (if NBC is in your market)
- CBS games — Not available (no CBS on Sling)
- Amazon Prime TNF — Not on Sling (Amazon exclusive)
NBA on Sling TV
- TNT — Sling Blue or combo
- NBA TV — Sports Extra add-on
- ESPN/ABC NBA — Sling Orange or combo
College Sports
- ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU — Orange or add-on
- ACC Network — Sling Select or Orange
- SEC Network — Sling Select or Orange
- Big Ten Network — Sports Extra
What’s Missing for Sports Fans
- No CBS (AFC NFL games, March Madness partial)
- No RSNs (Regional Sports Networks — no local MLB, NBA, or NHL team channels)
- No NBC Sports regional feeds beyond select markets
- No Amazon Prime Video content
Sling TV Compatible Devices
Sling TV runs on nearly every major platform. You don’t need to buy new hardware.
Streaming Devices:
- Amazon Fire TV (all generations)
- Roku (all models)
- Apple TV (4th gen and later)
- Chromecast with Google TV
- NVIDIA Shield
Smart TVs:
- Samsung Smart TVs (Tizen OS)
- LG Smart TVs (webOS)
- Vizio SmartCast TVs
- Sony Android TVs
Mobile & Tablet:
- iOS (iPhone and iPad) — iOS 15+
- Android phones and tablets — Android 8+
PC/Mac:
- Web browser at sling.com
Minimum Internet Speed:
- 3 Mbps for mobile
- 5 Mbps for one stream on TV
- 25 Mbps recommended for multiple simultaneous streams
DVR & Streaming Limits by Plan
| Feature | Sling Select | Sling Orange | Sling Blue | Orange + Blue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud DVR | 50 hrs free | 50 hrs free | 50 hrs free | 50 hrs free |
| DVR Upgrade | 200 hrs ($5/mo) | 200 hrs ($5/mo) | 200 hrs ($5/mo) | 200 hrs ($5/mo) |
| Simultaneous Streams | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| On-Demand Library | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
DVR recordings are stored for 30 days. You cannot skip ads on some network content, but most recordings allow fast-forwarding.
Sling Freestream — The Free Option
Sling Freestream is completely separate from the paid plans. It’s free with no account required. It gives you access to 600+ free ad-supported channels (FAST channels) and an on-demand library with 80,000+ titles.
It’s not a replacement for a paid Sling plan — you won’t get any live sports or news from major networks. But it’s a solid free starting point if you’re exploring Sling TV before subscribing.
Channels on Freestream include: Local Now, People TV, Tastemade, FilmRise, and hundreds of niche genre channels.
Who Should Pick Which Plan — Viewer Type Guide
Sports fans who need ESPN: → Start with Sling Orange. Add Sports Extra ($11/mo) for NFL RedZone, NBA TV, and MLB Network.
Sports fans who need FOX and NFL Network: → Sling Blue + Sports Extra. Best for NFC football games and RedZone.
Families with kids: → Sling Orange (Disney suite) or Sling Blue + Kids Add-On. Orange + Blue combo is best if parents and kids watch different things.
News watchers: → Sling Blue — CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, Bloomberg all included. Add News Extra ($6/mo) for Newsmax and i24NEWS.
Budget viewers: → Sling Select at $19.99/mo. Covers ESPN and Disney basics. Combine with Sling Freestream (free) for breadth.
International content viewers: → Sling Latino or Sling International packs. Massive content library for Spanish, Korean, South Asian, and Arabic language programming.
Sling TV vs. Competitors — Channel Count Comparison
| Service | Base Price | Channel Count | Simultaneous Streams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sling Orange | $45.99/mo | 31+ | 1 |
| Sling Blue | $45.99/mo | 40+ | 3 |
| YouTube TV | $72.99/mo | 100+ | 3 |
| Hulu + Live TV | $82.99/mo | 90+ | 2 |
| DirecTV Stream | $79.99/mo | 75+ | 3 |
| Philo | $25/mo | 70+ | 3 |
| FuboTV | $79.99/mo | 180+ | 2–3 |
Sling has fewer channels than most competitors at base price. But it’s significantly cheaper. For selective viewers, that trade-off works. For households wanting everything, YouTube TV or FuboTV make more sense.
Sling costs less but offers fewer channels. For full channel breakdowns on each competing service, see our Philo TV channels list and FuboTV channels list.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many channels does Sling TV have?
Sling Orange has 31+ channels. Sling Blue has 40+ channels. The Orange + Blue combo gives 45–50 channels. With all add-on packs, you can access 200+ channels total. Sling Freestream adds 600+ free channels with no subscription.
Does Sling TV have ESPN?
Yes — ESPN is available on Sling Orange and the Orange + Blue combo. It is not included in Sling Blue on its own.
Does Sling TV have local channels?
Yes, but only in select markets. FOX and NBC are available in the most markets via Sling Blue. ABC is available in some markets. CBS is not available on Sling TV at all.
Does Sling TV have CBS?
No. CBS has never reached a deal with Sling TV. To get CBS content, add Paramount+ with Showtime ($10.99/mo) or use an OTA antenna with Sling’s AirTV adapter.
Can I watch NFL on Sling TV?
Yes, but not every game. NFL Network and NFL RedZone (via Sports Extra) are on Sling Blue. ESPN Monday Night Football is on Orange. FOX and NBC games are in select markets on Blue. CBS games are unavailable.
What is the cheapest Sling TV plan?
Sling Select at $19.99/mo is the cheapest. It includes ESPN, ESPN2, Disney Channel, A&E, History, Lifetime, and a handful of other channels.
How many people can stream Sling TV at once?
Sling Orange: 1 stream. Sling Blue: 3 streams. Orange + Blue combo: 4 streams total.
Is there a free trial for Sling TV?
Sling TV occasionally offers promotional deals — typically a discounted first month rather than a full free trial. Check Sling.com for the current offer. Sling Freestream is always free with no sign-up required.
Does Sling TV have an NFL RedZone?
Yes — NFL RedZone is available as part of the Sports Extra add-on ($11/mo) on any paid Sling plan.
Can I cancel Sling TV anytime?
Yes. There’s no long-term contract. You can cancel anytime from your account settings.
Conclusion
Sling TV gives you a solid live TV experience at a lower price than most competitors. The Orange vs. Blue split is the most confusing part for new subscribers — but once you know that Orange = ESPN/Disney and Blue = Fox/NBC/More Streams, the choice gets easier.
For most viewers, Sling Blue is the better base plan simply because of the 3-stream limit and the wider channel variety. Add Sports Extra if you need NFL RedZone or NBA TV. Use an OTA antenna or Paramount+ to cover the CBS gap.
At $45.99/mo for a solid 40+ channel lineup with no contract, Sling TV remains one of the smartest options for cord-cutters in 2026.
