Sling TV Rolls Out $5 Day Pass to Woo Sports Fans

Dish-owned streaming provider Sling TV on 12 August introduced a range of short-term passes that let viewers buy access to live television without signing up for a monthly subscription, a first for a major U.S. virtual cable service. The new Day Pass costs $4.99 for 24-hour viewing, while a Weekend Pass is priced at $9.99 from Friday through Sunday and a Week Pass at $14.99 for seven days. All three unlock Sling’s Orange package, which carries more than 30 channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, TNT and TBS. Viewers can bolt on category-specific bundles such as Sports Extra for $1, $2 or $3, depending on pass length. “This launch is about putting control back in the hands of the fans,” said Seth Van Sickel, senior vice-president of product and operations, adding that the offering targets people who want to watch a single game, awards show or event without a “long-term, binding contract.” Sling Orange normally costs $46 a month, and the company’s pay-TV platforms ended the most recent quarter with roughly 1.8 million subscribers after continued customer erosion. Sling’s pay-per-period model arrives ahead of the college football season and as competition intensifies in the streaming sports market. ESPN will debut a direct-to-consumer service on 21 August for $29.99 a month, while Fox plans to launch its Fox One platform later in the year at $19.99, raising the stakes for retaining casual sports viewers.