Bear Down Wildcats

For many TV viewers, the only reason to keep paying for expensive cable subscriptions is to watch sports. And for that, they invariably need ESPN, the powerful network that has exclusive rights to many of the country’s most popular football and basketball games.

Now, that linchpin is being removed. For the first time ever, sports fans will be able to watch ESPN’s programming streamed online to their tablets, laptops, smartphones and TVs—all without paying a cable or satellite bill.

For $20 a month, viewers will also be able to watch CNN, the Food Network and the Cartoon Network through a new streaming service, called Sling TV. Dish Network, which is launching Sling, said the service will debut sometime later this month.

The full list of channels available on SlingTV are ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, TBS, Food Network, HGTV, Travel Channel, Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, ABC Family and CNN. Customers will also be able to add extra channels through “add-on packs” that cost an additional $5 per month. A kids-themed package will feature channels like Disney XD and Boomerang, while a news-focused version will include HLN and Bloomberg TV. A sports add-on pack is also on the way.

ASUHATER! wrote:If the sports add on pack has big 10/pac12/fs1 then I'd definitely do that. Netflix plus Amazon prime plus hbo plus espn/fs1/pac 12/big 10 plus food network/CNN/travel channel would be all I need. Digital tuner thing to get the local channels. Would pay less than half what I do now and would only be missing like less than 5 channels I really care about (BBC America, discovery, fx)

Catintheheat wrote:The service is called Sling Television or SlingTV. There will be more added on in the future. As far as just for millenials. I think they underestimate how many people want to break their ties with cable/SAT. The interesting thing is it is from Dish Network. Since they only have a 13% market share they are betting they can increase that through streaming. And I bet they are right. What extra money I have will be invested in EchoStar. This is the wave of the future (becoming present) and they now how to deal with the big media companies. This is brilliant what they are doing.

scumdevils86 wrote:

Catintheheat wrote:The service is called Sling Television or SlingTV. There will be more added on in the future. As far as just for millenials. I think they underestimate how many people want to break their ties with cable/SAT. The interesting thing is it is from Dish Network. Since they only have a 13% market share they are betting they can increase that through streaming. And I bet they are right. What extra money I have will be invested in EchoStar. This is the wave of the future (becoming present) and they now how to deal with the big media companies. This is brilliant what they are doing.

absolutely. i am actually surprised it happened this fast though. i was thinking it'd take a few more years. but maybe not, the technology is certainly not an issue. if they want my business they will take money for what I am willing to pay for. not things I don't want.

That's how the future will definitely be.