Sling TV Launches Industry-First $4.99 Day Pass Redefining How Viewers Watch Live TV

Rhea-AI Summary

Sling TV (NASDAQ:SATS) has launched groundbreaking flexible streaming options with its new $4.99 Day Pass, $9.99 Weekend Pass, and $14.99 Week Pass. This industry-first initiative allows viewers to access live TV, sports, and entertainment without long-term commitments.

The passes provide access to Sling Orange networks including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, TNT, Disney Channel, and more. Customers can enhance their viewing experience by adding Sling Extras packages for additional $1-$3 depending on the pass duration. The launch strategically coincides with the upcoming football season, offering fans flexible viewing options for games and tournaments.

Positive

• Introduction of industry-first flexible streaming passes starting at just $4.99
• Strategic timing with football season, targeting sports viewers
• Additional revenue potential through Sling Extras add-on packages
• No long-term contracts required, increasing consumer flexibility

Negative

• Potential cannibalization of traditional subscription revenue
• Limited channel selection compared to full Sling TV packages

Insights

Streaming Media Analyst

Sling TV's new short-term passes represent a strategic innovation that could boost casual viewership while creating a lower-friction entry point for potential subscribers.

Sling TV's introduction of $4.99 Day Pass, $9.99 Weekend Pass, and $14.99 Week Pass represents a significant strategic shift in the streaming industry that has traditionally relied on monthly subscription models. This move directly addresses several key market challenges:

The timing ahead of football season is particularly strategic, targeting high-value sports content that drives significant viewership spikes but doesn't necessarily convert to year-round subscriptions. By offering microtransaction-style access, Sling potentially captures revenue from viewers who previously might have used free trials or shared passwords for one-off events.

From a competitive standpoint, this positions Sling uniquely against both traditional cable providers and streaming competitors like YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV, which maintain higher-priced monthly subscription models. The ability to add specialized content packages (Sports Extra, News Extra, etc.) for just $1-3 further enhances this flexible approach.

The economic model likely works because Sling can monetize casual viewers who might otherwise never convert to full subscribers, while creating a frictionless entry point that could lead to future conversions. The $4.99 price point psychologically falls below the typical $5 threshold consumers associate with impulse purchases.

For investors, this represents an innovative approach to customer acquisition and revenue diversification at a time when streaming services face intense competition and subscriber growth challenges. The success will ultimately depend on conversion rates, average revenue per user metrics, and whether this approach cannibalizes full-subscription revenues or genuinely expands the addressable market.

• New Sling TV passes offer instant, contract-free access to live sports, tv and entertainment for a day, weekend or week

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Aug. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sling TV, the most flexible live streaming service, is flipping the script on traditional streaming bundles with the launch of the first of its kind, new $4.99 Day Pass, $9.99 Weekend Pass and $14.99 Week Pass. Sling TV shook up how we watch TV in 2015. Now it's breaking the mold again, just in time for football season with fresh, flexible ways to tune in, giving customers even more control over how they watch television.

Passes are the latest move in Sling's mission to challenge industry norms by creating flexible, fan-first streaming solutions at a time when consumers are demanding more control and less cost. This industry-first product gives viewers instant, 24-hour access to live TV, sports and entertainment without a long-term commitment.

"This launch is about putting control back in the hands of the fans, whether it's tuning in for college football, professional sports, award shows, or a spontaneous movie night, all without having to sign a long-term, binding contract," said Seth Van Sickel, Senior Vice President, Product and Operations, Sling TV. "With college football just around the corner, our new Day Pass offering is all consumers need to win on game day, for just $4.99."

New Offerings: Built for Real-Life Moments
To give football fans the ultimate flexibility, Sling TV has launched its new passes, short-term streaming options built for real-life viewing habits. Whether you're catching a single Saturday or Sunday showdown, settling in for a weekend of back-to-back games, or need a full week of access during playoffs or a school break, these passes make it easy. Get instant access to live football, entertainment, family friendly shows and news—no contracts, no long-term bills, just the action you want, when you want it.

• Day Pass ($4.99): Instant 24-hour access. Perfect for a big game, an awards show, or an impromptu movie night.
• Weekend Pass ($9.99): Access from Friday to Sunday. Ideal for a weekend of games, a movie marathon, or catching up on a show.
• Week Pass ($14.99): 7-day access. Great for a week-long tournament, watching a new series, or keeping the family entertained on break.

Along with the launch of Day Pass, subscribers can also add Sling Extras, add-on channel packages. These add-ons offer a way to customize your channel lineup by category. Current Sling Extra packages include, Sports Extra, News Extra, Entertainment Extra, Hollywood Extra, Lifestyle Extra, Heartland Extra and Kids Extra. Fans can add Sling Extras to their passes for $1 for Day Pass, $2 for Weekend Pass and $3 for Week Pass.

Day Pass, Weekend Pass and Week Pass include live and on-demand access to popular networks on Sling Orange like ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, TNT, A&E, TBS, Disney Channel, Comedy Central, History Channel, CNN and more.

"Built for the way people actually watch TV today, our new passes put viewers in control," said Van Sickel. "For just $4.99, fans can dive into live sports, trending shows, or special events with no strings attached. It's instant access, ultimate flexibility and an unbeatable value."

For more information about Sling TV and the new passes, visit Sling.com.

About Sling TV
Sling TV is an Emmy® Award-winning live streaming TV service that provides more than 700 channels from today's most popular networks across its general market, Latino and international services. It is available on all major streaming devices, smart televisions, tablets, game consoles, computers and smartphones. Sling TV offers two general market streaming services, Sling Orange and Sling Blue, that collectively feature content from Disney/ESPN, FOX, NBC, AMC, A&E, AXS, Discovery, Scripps, Turner, Viacom, NBA TV, NFL Network, NHL Network, GSN, Hallmark, SHOWTIME, STARZ and MGM+. Sling TV offers customers access to free content via Sling Freestream, à la carte channels and services, plus Pay-Per-View events and movies on-demand. Sling TV provides a suite of stand-alone and add-on Spanish-language services and packages tailored to English-dominant, bilingual and Spanish-dominant U.S. households. Sling TV is the leading U.S. provider of foreign-language programming, with more than 400 channels in 27 languages. Visit sling.com for more information. Sling TV L.L.C. is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS).

 

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SOURCE EchoStar Corporation

FAQ

How much does Sling TV's new Day Pass cost and what does it include?

Sling TV's Day Pass costs $4.99 and provides 24-hour access to Sling Orange networks including ESPN, TNT, Disney Channel, and more.

What are the different types of new passes launched by Sling TV (SATS)?

Sling TV launched three types of passes: Day Pass ($4.99) for 24-hour access, Weekend Pass ($9.99) for Friday to Sunday access, and Week Pass ($14.99) for 7-day access.

Can you add extra channels to Sling TV's new passes?

Yes, viewers can add Sling Extras packages (Sports, News, Entertainment, etc.) for $1 with Day Pass, $2 with Weekend Pass, and $3 with Week Pass.

What channels are included in Sling TV's new passes?

The passes include access to Sling Orange networks such as ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, TNT, A&E, TBS, Disney Channel, Comedy Central, History Channel, and CNN.

When will Sling TV's new passes be available?

The new passes are launching in time for the upcoming football season, with immediate availability for viewers to purchase.