Sling TV Launches $19.99 Package With ESPN
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- Sling TV launched Sling Essentials, a $19.99/month streaming package that includes ESPN, ESPN2, and 10 other channels, marketed as the most cost-effective way to livestream those networks.
- Disney offers ESPN Unlimited for $29.99/month, which includes ESPN and ESPN2 plus additional sports networks and thousands of live events, making Sling’s new package one-third the price for core ESPN access.
- Sling TV includes 50 hours of DVR storage with Sling Essentials, with an unlimited DVR add-on available for $5 extra per month, and allows bundling with additional programming packs like Sports Extra or Latino Extra.
- Dish and Disney are locked in ongoing litigation over Sling Passes—short-term streaming plans starting at $4.99—after a federal judge denied Disney’s request to block them in November, followed by Dish’s January countersuit alleging antitrust violations.
Why it matters: Sling TV’s $19.99 package undercuts Disney’s $29.99 ESPN Unlimited by focusing only on core ESPN channels, giving budget-conscious sports viewers a clear alternative. The pricing gap highlights a strategic split: Disney monetizes breadth of live sports, while Sling leverages regulatory wins to offer modular, low-cost access amid active legal conflict over distribution rights.
