Sling TV, a subsidiary of US pay-television provider Dish Network, has said it will launch a new live, over-the-top television service offering customers access to content from companies including sports broadcaster ESPN.
Scheduled to launch in the first quarter of 2015, Sling TV will deliver live sports, lifestyle, family, news and information channels, video-on-demand entertainment and online video to broadband-connected devices at home and on-the-go in the US. Priced at $20 (€16) per month, the service will require no commitment, contract, credit check or hardware installation.
The ‘Best of Live TV’ core package comprises 12 networks, including ESPN and ESPN2. Sling TV said a ‘Sports Extra’ add-on pack will be provided at a later date. Sling TV aims to appeal to consumers by providing access to ESPN and other networks for $20 per month, as opposed to spending $60 or more for access to cable or satellite television services.
“Live television, including ESPN, for $20 per month with no commitment or contract, is a game changer,” Roger Lynch, chief executive of Sling TV, said. “The arrival of Sling TV lets consumers, who’ve embraced services like Netflix and Hulu, take more control of their video entertainment experience.”
Supported internet-connected devices for Sling TV are expected to include Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google’s Nexus Player, select LG Smart TVs, Roku players, Roku TV models, select Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox One, iOS, Android, Mac and PC.