Sling TV and Dish Network are two distinct streaming and satellite TV providers, but they have some similarities. Sling TV offers a selection of cable streaming channels over the internet at a variety of subscription packages and Dish Network brings hundreds of satellite channels to homes and businesses through satellite dish antennas. But does it mean if I get Dish Network then I get free Sling TV? But let’s have a second look at these.
Dish Network and Sling TV have a parent and subsidiary relationship.
Sling TV is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dish Network which played a key role in its creation in 2015. Although Sling TV is a separate service that does not offer customers to sign up for a long time, there is a connection: the two mentioned services are Corporal Brothers. Although there are two types of services, the subscription to one does not automatically include access to the other. Still, it is availed as two distinct paid services.
This means that while you can have Dish Network satellite TV installed in your home you do not get free access to Sling TV without additional agreement. But merely agreeing to Sling TV does not mean getting any Dish Network Satellite programming and does not offer any promotions or discounts on getting Dish Network service. They also have different billing structures, channel packages, and subscription options.
Bundling Options
However, there are some Dish Network and Sling TV promos offered for bundled services, but Sling TV does not come as a part of a basic Dish package. However, there have been special offers where Sling TV provided a free trial of its services for a month or more when the user subscribed to Dish Network packages.
For instance, now, Dish provides a free first month of Sling TV Blue for newly subscribed customers choosing America’s Top packages and above. This entitles you to a limited-time view of Sling Blue’s list of over 50 live channels which include Fox, NBC, CNN, and AMC, among others during the first month when signing up with Dish Network satellite service.
Furthermore, some Dish Flex streaming packages targeted at cord-cutters allow the option of including Sling TV if you prefer the channels and on-demand libraries of that service to Dish’s streaming services. Sling TV here provides the means to watch channels such as Netflix and Prime Video.
In essence, the conclusion that can be made is that Sling TV is not always free from Dish Network subscribers. However, there are always special offers depending on whichever promotion is ongoing at the time of signing up or the Dish package you choose during sign up hence offering an open Sling free trial for a certain period.
Sling TV is one of the most popular internet-based television services that allow consumers to watch their favorite channels and programs without any cable provider’s interference.
While Sling TV access does not get added to Dish Network accounts automatically without charge, there are a few ways to try Sling TV for free, either directly through them or in coordination with a Dish promotion:
- Sling TV Free Trial – Sling TV now provides its customers with a free trial of three days for the Sling Blue or Sling Orange packages for them to test the services before subscribing to the service.
- Refer a Friend – Subscribing to your friends so that they can sign up for Sling TV will give both of you a free month of Sling TV services.
- As part of Dish Promos – As stated earlier, Dish Network may include a free trial for Sling TV for 1 month upon activation of eligible Dish packages and services.
- Free Weekends or Weeks – Sling TV also has open weekends or weeks a couple of times a year which permits the users to watch the channels without subscribing to them.
Even though Dish Network Sling TV is not automatically offered to Dish Network customers for free, there are occasions where you can get free trial access to Sling TV either through them or in conjunction with Sling TV when signing up with Dish Network. However, you will have to use these offers directly to be able to take advantage of them.
Sling TV Pricing
Since Sling TV is a different service from Dish Network that requires separate registrations and accounts, what are the Sling TV standard prices if one did desire to subscribe to their streaming channels alongside Dish? Here is what they currently charge:
- Sling Orange Package – $40 per month. 32+ channels.
- DIRECTV SLING BLUE – $40/month. 42+ channels.
- Sling Orange + Blue – The most basic package costs $55 per month. 50+ combined channels.
- Premium Add-ons – $5-$15/month for additional packages that include Sports Extra, Comedy Extra, Lifestyle Extra, News Extra, Hollywood Extra, Heartland Extra, and Kid’s Extra. Around 10 channels each.
- International Services - Over 25 global language services from $5-$10 monthly including Deports Extra, Chinese Language Pack South Asian Pack, Filipino Pack, and many others.
Sling TV is one of the most flexible as it offers customers no contracts, commitments, or any hidden charges. You can cancel anytime.
Contrary to popular belief, Sling TV is not offered for free when one signs up for the Dish Network satellite packages, however, the combination of the two services helps to expand the range of channels available with Dish providing the most popular networks and sports through satellite installation while Sling complements that with streaming cable favorites accessed through the Internet. Make sure to utilize any promotions that are available on the services to test whether it is necessary to include both the service and the product in the house.
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