Sling TV has offered tons of content for free for quite some time. But I am willing to bet that most people had no idea that it was out there. The content was not hidden behind a pay wall, but did require users to sign in or create a Sling TV account in order to access the content. Sling TV is making a big move to make it easier to get to all that free stuff.
Today the service launched its new free advertising-supported streaming television service (FAST) – Sling Freestream. Unveiled on SLING’s eighth birthday and National Cut the Cord Day, Freestream is available through the SLING app on all Roku devices, and is rolling out across Comcast, LG, Samsung, Vizio and Xbox devices, providing customers a no-barrier entry point to high-quality programming without any payment or credit card required. Freestream will roll out across all SLING-compatible devices throughout the coming months.
“Sling Freestream is a great new service that helps meet consumers’ evolving needs,” said Gary Schanman, group president, SLING TV. “We know some people want free content, some may want a year-round paid subscription, while others may want to subscribe for certain events or shows. We have coupled world-class content with the option to easily flex in and out of premium pay TV, creating a one-of-a-kind entertainment experience.”
Sling Freestream delivers more than 210 channels and 41,000 on-demand titles – for free. Genres include everything from news, sports, game shows and crime dramas to sitcoms, animal antics, nature, home improvement, cooking and more. Popular channels and programming include ABC News Live; Architectural Digest: “Open Door;” Buzzr: “Family Feud;” CBS News; Cheddar News: “Wake Up with Cheddar;” ESPN On Demand; ESR; Electric Now; FailArmy; FilmRise: “Hell’s Kitchen,” “Heartland,” “Forensic Files;” Maverick Black Cinema: “Boxed In,” “Dilemma,” “GoTraveler,” “Rick Steves Europe,” “Anthony Bourdain A Cook’s Tour;” The Pet Collective, The Walking Dead Universe and VH1 I Love Reality, to name a few. Plus, Freestream uniquely offers industry-leading international programming in seven languages, such as AajTak International, Zona TUDN, ARY News, France24, beIN SPORTS XTRA, SonyKal, Noticias Univision 24/7, TVP World, Al Jazeera English and Al Arabiya.
Within the Freestream interface, the service will act as a portal and advertising for pay services that users can subscribe to through Sling TV as well as off users the ability to sign up for Sling Orange and Sling Blue. The more than 50 standalone streaming services include (AMC+, discovery+, MGM+, SHOWTIME. This is similar to what users will find within the Roku Channel and YouTube Premium Channels.
Sling Freestream says it will grow its free content catalog over the next few months and continue to enhance the user experience. Future Sling Freestream features include universal search functionality, enhanced channel surfing, updated guide filters, autoplay capabilities and more.
“On top of the popular content and a seamless user experience, Sling Freestream provides a premium advertising experience that benefits viewers and advertisers alike,” Schanman added. “Built on the same advertising tech that powers SLING, Freestream is yet another opportunity for us to lead, innovate and deliver a greater impact for our advertisers.”
Visit here to access Sling Freestream and learn more.
