This streaming service has the benefits of cable without the drawbacks
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Sling TVThanks to the low price and large catalogs of video streaming services it's easier than ever to cut the cable cord.
But sometimes it's convenient to watch shows as they air, which can be difficult if they're not on the handful of channels you can catch with an HDTV antenna.
Sling TV is a happy medium: you pay a monthly fee for live access to select channels for a low monthly price with the ability to cancel at any time.
There are two basic packages to choose from: Orange, which includes 30 channels for $20 a month, and blue, which includes 44 channels for $25 a month. Orange subscribers can stream to one device at a time, while blue subscribers can stream to three.
You can compare the channel selection of both plans below, just click the slider in the middle of the image and move it to the left or right.
Both plans include major channels, including CNN, ESPN, Comedy Central, Cartoon Network, BBC America, TBS, and the Travel Channel. But if you find the plans lacking, you can augment them with add on packages to expand your options.
These extras range in price from $5 to $10 a month, and group together certain types of channels, including sports, news, comedy, international programming (broken down by country or region), and kids programming; HBO can be added to a Sling subscription for $15 a month, too.
If you're more concerned with adding streaming-style convenience, you can spend add cloud DVR functionality to your subscription for $5 a month. You can record multiple shows at once, store up to 50 hours worth of video, and pause, rewind, and fast-forward at your convenience. Cloud DVR is only available for certain channels and can only be played back on Roku, Amazon, and Apple TV devices.
One of the biggest benefits to Sling TV is the ability to watch live programming from wherever you are. A full list of compatible devices is available on its website, but iOS, Android, and Fire OS devices are supported. Another is the lack of a multi-year contract. If you try the service, and find you're not using it very much after a couple of months, you won't have to jump through a lot of hoops or pay an additional fee.
Anyone interested in Sling TV can take advantage of a one week free trial of either an orange or blue subscription, which will turn into a monthly subscription if you don't cancel. If you've been thinking about cutting the cord, but don't want to wait for your favorite shows to end up on Netflix, this service is a nice compromise.