Sling TV, the cord-cutting service affiliated with Dish Network, revealed last week that the app to receive its live over-the-top streaming video service is now available on the Android TV platform, including select 2015 Sony and Sharp smart TVs, and the Google Nexus player.
Ironically, it appears Sling TV will be available as an app on some Sony integrated smart TVs before Sony’s own, similar PlayStation Vue OTT live streaming service. Of course, any Sony TV owner with a PlayStation 3 or 4 console can get the service through a downloadable app now if they happen to live in a location where the PlayStation Vue service has rolled out (currently Chicago, New York and Philadelphia).
More on Android TV products getting the Sling TV service after the jump:
A spokesperson for Sling TV told HD Guru that “Sling TV will be available on smart TVs that have the Android TV platform, joining in the market players and integrated smart TVs based on the Roku platform.
A Sony spokesperson confirmed that “Sling TV is a Google Play app and our Android TV enabled TVs support all Google Play apps.”
The Sling TV service offers cord-cutters and cord-nevers a scaled-down selection of mostly basic-cable TV channel services at a $20 per month starting fee, which is significantly cheaper than most starting packages for cable, satellite and telco TV services. More so after equipment fees are added into the plan. Sling TV also doesn’t require credit checks and other qualifications to receive service.
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By comparison, PlayStation Vue offers three tiers of service starting at $49.95, and unlike Sling TV, includes some live local broadcast TV channels, in addition to basic and premium cable channels and on-demand selections.
The Sling TV app is now available for download in the Google Play Store. The platform launch brings a half-price promotion on the Google Nexus Player ($73.32) made by Asus when customers pre-pay for three months of Sling TV service. Alternatively, customers can choose to sample Sling TV on their Nexus Player for seven days at no cost.
With the addition of the Android TV platform, Sling TV will be available on select Sony and Sharp smart TVs, in addition to the Nexus add-on device.
Those devices will join products based on the Roku TV platform offering Sling TV. That includes the current generation of Roku players and as well as all Roku TV models. Roku TV models are being offered this year by Hisense, Insignia, Sharp and TCL. Haier Roku TV models will be available this fall.
In other news, Sling TV said it recently-launched “Deportes Extra,” a sports add-on pack to ESPN Deportes, for $5 per month to subscribers of the “Best of Live TV” core package.
The Spanish language channels will bring access to popular sports events including UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, UEFA Europa League, La Liga’s Copa del Rey Final and Supercopa, select European FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, and the 2016 UEFA European Championship. Fans of U.S. professional sports can also catch MLB, Monday Night Football, NFL Wildcard, NBA (including The Finals) and the College Football Playoff, among other top events.
By Greg Tarr
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