In an initiative aimed at broadening the way in which customers access their video products, streaming service Sling TV is launching day, weekend, and week-long “passes.”
“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.”
The new Sling TV video offering includes three options: Day Pass ($4.99), Weekend Pass ($9.99; Friday to Sunday), and Week Pass ($14.99).
Subscribers can also add-on channel packages known as Sling Extras. 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 the Day Pass, $2 for the Weekend Pass, and $3 for the Week Pass.
Established Sling TV video offerings are divided between Sling Orange and Sling Blue. They 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+.
Late last September, DirecTV announced that it will acquire EchoStar’s video distribution assets, which include DISH TV and Sling TV.
The new “passes” strategy seems to fit into DirecTV’s strategy. The press release announcing the acquisition said that the goal was to “have increased scale to incentivize programmers to allow DIRECTV to deliver smaller packages at lower price points.”
The Sling TV video approach also seems to be consistent with J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Television Service Provider Satisfaction Study. It found that cost was the largest factor in satisfaction levels between streaming and cable/satellite services. Overall, streaming was tops by 101 points on a 1,000-point scale. The gap in value for the price paid was 140 points.
