Sling TV Launches $4.99 Day Pass in Bid for Micro-Subscription Viewers

Sling TV, the live-streaming service owned by Dish Network, introduced à-la-carte access passes that let viewers buy television in 24-hour, weekend or week-long increments rather than commit to a monthly subscription. The Day Pass costs $4.99 for 24-hour access, the Weekend Pass is priced at $9.99 from Friday through Sunday and the Week Pass is $14.99 for seven days. Each tier unlocks Sling’s 34-channel Orange package, which includes ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, A&E, Disney Channel and CNN, on a single device. Customers can tack on category-based channel bundles—such as Sports, News or Kids—for $1 on a Day Pass, $2 on a Weekend Pass and $3 on a Week Pass. Sling framed the offer as an “industry first,” aimed at viewers who want to watch specific sporting events or award shows without recurring charges. “This launch is about putting control back in the hands of the fans,” said Seth Van Sickel, senior vice-president of product and operations.