Sling TV is known for being one of the most inexpensive cable alternatives on the market. It's also one of the best streaming services for live sports. Sling TV offers a choice of three channel packages, each with a price lower than the average internet live TV provider. The best part is that all three Sling TV plans are great for sports.
You can stream some of your favorite sports with Sling TV, but you have a few options to choose from. ESPN and Fox Sports come in separate base packages, so you’ll have to choose between the two unless you purchase the Orange+Blue plan which includes both. There’s also a Sports Extra add-on for $11/month, which includes NHL Network, MLB Network, and NBA TV.
Affiliate Disclosure: Flixed.io may receive an affiliate commission from product sales generated through these affiliate links.
Sling Orange
$10 off your first month
- 30+ channels
- ESPN
- Stream on one device
$40/month
Sling Blue
$10 off your first month
- 40+ channels
- Local channels in select cities
- News and entertainment
- Stream on three screens
$45/month
Sling Orange & Blue
$10 off your first month
- General cable replacement
- 45+ channels
- Stream on three screens
$60/month
What sports channels does Sling TV offer?
Sling TV is a great option for accessing sports at a low price, but it may not be the best option for range of channels available. For a wide range of channels to stream, we would recommend YouTube TV or Fubo instead. For sports fans, your Sling TV subscription may cost you $66/month ($55 for the Orange+Blue package, plus $11 for the sports add-on), which is still less expensive than some top competitors. And while Sling TV doesn’t directly offer local sports networks, it’s compatible with OTA antennas and will even send you an antenna for free if you join and prepay your first two months.
How do Sling TV sports channels compare?
| Hulu w/ Live TV | Fubo | YouTube TV | Sling TV | Philo | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESPN | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| NFL Network | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Fox Sports 1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| ESPN 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| SEC Network | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Golf Channel | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| NBC Sports Network | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Big Ten Network | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| MLB Network | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| NBA TV | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| CBS Sports Network | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Fox Sports 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| NHL Network | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| ESPNU | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Pac 12 Network | No | Yes | No | No | No |
While Sling TV is cheaper than Fubo, YouTube TV, or Hulu with Live TV, it does offer fewer sports channels. However, note that with the sports add-on (which costs $11/month), you can access many of the channels that aren’t available on the Sling Orange+Blue plan, including MLB Network, NBA TV, ESPNU, SEC Network, and NHL. Even with the sports add-on, Sling TV is a few dollars less expensive than YouTube TV, Hulu with Live TV, and Fubo.
You should also note that you can access many of these sports networks with Sling TV’s basic Blue or Orange packages. However, each package offers different channels. For example, the Orange package is better for NCAA football, while the Blue package is better for pro football enthusiasts.
Does Sling TV offer regional sports networks?
A regional sports network is a cable channel that airs sports to a local market or region. Sling TV doesn’t offer RSNs in any of its traditional packages, but it is compatible with OTA antennas that allow you to access those local sports. Luckily, Sling TV will help you out here. If you join and prepay your first two months, Sling TV will send you an OTA antenna for free, which you can easily mount indoors.
Local channels on Sling TV
If you’re not interested in using an antenna, you can also stream local sports by using a VPN of your choosing. You’ll have to pay for VPN access, but these private networks allow you to stream local sports and even blackout games. To be clear, Sling TV does not support VPN streaming.
Plans and add-ons for sports
With Sling TV, your plan options are Blue (includes Fox Sports, NFL Network, and NBC Sports), Orange (includes ESPN), or Blue and Orange. To receive access to additional sports channels, including MLB, NBA TV, SEC Network, and NHL, you’ll have to purchase the Orange+Blue plan with the sports add-on package, which will run you an extra $11/month. Even with the sports add-on, Sling TV is still less expensive than YouTube TV, Hulu with Live TV, and Fubo TV.
Is Sling TV good for sports?
Some of the most sought-after sports channels like ESPN (both ESPN 2 and 3), Fox Sports 1, NFL Redzone, MLB Network, and NBA TV are all available with Sling. Although all of those channels come within different packages unless you boost your service with some add-on options. Whatever sports channel you’re looking for, Sling TV probably offers it. It’s just a matter of choosing a package that has what you’re looking for at the right price.
Davan Hamilton • Editor
Davan Hamilton is an editor and writer based in Jacksonville, FL. Holding a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, her writing spans a wide range, from essays on film criticism and analysis to surreal poetry. Now, she works for Flixed as an editor, continuing to ignore the list of passion projects she’s accumulated. When she’s not glued to her computer, you can find her building endless amounts of Lego sets, binge-reading manga, or playing with (fighting) her cat.
How To Watch
Flixed.io's contributors and editorial team will often recommend products we believe to be useful for our readers. We may receive an affiliate commission from product sales generated through these affiliate links.