Happy Holidays: You’re going to pay more for Sling TV in December

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By Simon Cohen Published November 22, 2024 2:34 PM

Just in time for the holidays, Sling TV has announced that it will be increasing its prices by $6 per month, starting on December 20, 2024. The new pricing affects Sling Orange, Sling Blue, and Sling Orange and Blue packages. Sling’s last countrywide price increase was in 2022, however, it increased its prices again for select markets in March 2023.

This latest price hike, which Sling TV attributes to the ever-rising cost of programming, brings the cost of Sling Orange to $46 per month, Sling Blue to $51 per month, and Sling Orange and Blue to $66 per month.

Sling says it’s not the only streaming service to raise its prices in 2024. “These increases are industrywide,” the company posted to a webpage detailing the new prices. “Despite this, Sling continues to be the most affordable option, with offerings more than $20 less per month versus other providers.”

It’s also worth noting that Sling TV hasn’t been standing still on features. The company recently began adding 4K streaming in select markets.

Price increases are seemingly unavoidable, but if this latest announcement is the straw that broke the camel’s back in terms of your TV budget, may we suggest taking a look at some Sling TV alternatives?

If you decide that one of these competitors looks like a better deal, here’s how to cancel your Sling TV subscription.

On the other hand, maybe it’s simply time to reevaluate your Sling TV package. Maybe you’d be better off with a different set of channels. Here’s a handy comparison of Sling Orange and Sling Blue to help you decide.

Simon Cohen

Simon Cohen is a contributing editor to Digital Trends' Audio/Video section, where he obsesses over the latest wireless…

Philo is now available on LG smart TVs

A promo image of Philo on an LG TV.

Philo is one of the least expensive live-streaming services out there. LG makes some of the most popular smart TVs. And now you get the former directly on the latter, without any additional hardware. In other words, there's now a Philo app available on LG smart TVs.

Philo sports 75 linear channels — and this year added AMC+ — for just $28 a month. So while you get around half as many channels as its competitors, you're also paying a fraction of the monthly fee. Old-timers will recognize that it's definitely more expensive than it used to be, having started at $16 a month, but it's also far less than what you'll pay for the likes of YouTube TV or Hulu With Live TV, and it's even less expensive than the most basic Sling package.

What is Philo? Everything to know about the live TV streaming service

The Philo streaming app.

With the rise of streaming services, cutting the cord on cable TV is easier than ever. While the most popular streamers like Netflix and Max have gigantic catalogs of video on demand (VOD) content, they don't tend to offer much access to live programming. That's where live TV streaming services like Philo shine.

Philo delivers more than 70 live channels, including options like AMC, HGTV & Nickelodeon. It competes with other live streamers like Sling TV, providing a budget-friendly choice that doesn't sacrifice access to the shows you want to watch.

Sling TV channels, plans, pricing, extras, and more

Sling TV on a TV.

When it comes to live TV streaming services, Sling TV is one of the best, offering up the channels you want while not breaking the bank. While it isn't the most simple of streaming services, it is an option that is worth it for anyone looking to balance their budget, or if you don't need every channel out there. It's built on two tracks — Sling Orange and Sling Blue. You can get one of the tracks for a paltry sum, or both for a little bit more. (Which is what Sling really encourages you to do.) While there is some overlap between the two, neither of them has the full catalog that its competitors like YouTube TV can offer.

To augment their smaller catalog, it has its own slate of optional add-ons, which Sling TV calls Extras. Each one costs a few dollars more each month, which can quickly add up to the same price range of services like YouTube TV, Hulu Plus Live TV, and Fubo, it's all about your ability to choose to have those add-ons — or not.

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