Sling Orange vs Sling Blue: Everything you need to know
Sling Orange vs Sling Blue: Everything you need to know
We’ll explain which channels are found in each package, what each package does best, and more below.
If you’ve filtered through your live TV streaming choices to decide on Sling TV, you can rest assured that you’ve picked one of The Streamable’s favorite ways to watch top cable channels. Sling TV offers smaller channel packages at a lower price than most streamers charge for big, overstuffed plans that are filled with channels most viewers will never watch.
But if you’ve narrowed your choice to Sling TV, you still have to decide between the service’s Orange and Blue packages. These are Sling’s two main plans, each offering more than 30 channels, and each combining news, sports, and entertainment-themed networks in one bundle.
But what are the differences between Sling Orange and Sling Blue? Our experts have put together this perfect beginner’s guide to the two plans to help unsure readers. See which specific channels are found in Sling Orange and Sling Blue, and find the answers to all your other questions about the packages below.
Sling Orange vs Sling Blue: Which is right for you?
What are the biggest differences between Sling Orange and Blue?
Sling Orange and Sling Blue are Sling’s two base channel plans, and share more than 25 channels altogether. Subscribers get A&E, BET, CNN, Comedy Central, Food Network, History, Lifetime, TBS, TNT, Travel Channel, and Vice in each plan.
Sling Orange offers 30+ channels, with sports and family programming being its biggest areas of focus. It carries both ESPN and ESPN2, as well as Disney Channel, in addition to the 25+ channels Sling Orange shares with Sling Blue.
The Blue package has a greater focus on news and entertainment networks, with channels like Bravo, FX, Fox News, and MS NOW that are not available in Sling Orange. It still includes sports options, such as FS1 and NFL Network, and Sling Blue is the only one of the two packages that offers local channel access (more on that below).
Which channels are available in the Sling Orange and Sling Blue plans?
| Channels | Sling Orange | Sling Blue |
|---|---|---|
| ABC (in select markets) | ❌ | ✔ |
| A&E | ✔ | ✔ |
| AMC | ✔ | ✔ |
| AXS TV | ✔ | ✔ |
| BBC America | ✔ | ✔ |
| BET | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bloomberg TV | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bravo | ❌ | ✔ |
| Cartoon Network | ❌ | ✔ |
| Charge! | ✔ | ✔ |
| CNN | ✔ | ✔ |
| Comedy Central | ✔ | ✔ |
| Comet | ✔ | ✔ |
| Discovery | ❌ | ✔ |
| Disney Channel | ✔ | ❌ |
| E! | ❌ | ✔ |
| ESPN | ✔ | ❌ |
| ESPN2 | ✔ | ❌ |
| Food Network | ✔ | ✔ |
| Fox (in select markets) | ❌ | ✔ |
| Fox News | ❌ | ✔ |
| FS1 | ❌ | ✔ |
| Freeform | ✔ | ❌ |
| Fuse | ✔ | ✔ |
| FX | ❌ | ✔ |
| HGTV | ✔ | ✔ |
| History | ✔ | ✔ |
| HLN | ❌ | ✔ |
| IFC | ✔ | ✔ |
| Investigation Discovery | ✔ | ✔ |
| Lifetime | ✔ | ✔ |
| Local Now | ✔ | ✔ |
| MGM+ Drive-In | ✔ | ✔ |
| MSNBC | ❌ | ✔ |
| MotorTrend | ✔ | ❌ |
| National Geographic | ❌ | ✔ |
| NBC (in select markets) | ❌ | ✔ |
| NFL Network | ❌ | ✔ |
| Nick Jr. | ✔ | ✔ |
| QVC | ✔ | ❌ |
| SYFY | ❌ | ✔ |
| TBS | ✔ | ✔ |
| TLC | ❌ | ✔ |
| TNT | ✔ | ✔ |
| Travel Channel | ✔ | ✔ |
| truTV | ❌ | ✔ |
| USA Network | ❌ | ✔ |
| Vice TV | ✔ | ✔ |
Does Sling Blue or Sling Orange carry local broadcast channels?
Sling Blue is the only one of the two packages that carries local broadcast channels ABC, Fox, and NBC in select markets. As a general rule of thumb, only the largest television markets in the country get access to local channels with Sling, though there are some exceptions.
It’s important to note that, while ABC, Fox, and NBC can be found on Sling Blue in some areas, other local channels CBS, The CW, and PBS are not available with Sling in any markets. See which areas can watch local channels with Sling TV in the chart below!
| Market | Fox Station | NBC Station | ABC Station |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | WAGA | ||
| Austin | KTBC | ||
| Boston | WBTS | ||
| Chicago | WFLD | WMAQ | WLS |
| Dallas/Fort Worth | KDFW | KXAS | |
| Detroit | WJBK | ||
| Fresno | KFSN | ||
| Gainesville | WOGX | ||
| Hartford/New Haven | WVIT | ||
| Houston | KRIV | KTRK | |
| Los Angeles | KTTV | KNBC | KABC |
| Miami/Fort Lauderdale | WTVJ | ||
| Milwaukee | WITI | ||
| Minneapolis/St. Paul | KMSP | ||
| New York | WNYW | WNBC | WABC |
| Orlando/Daytona/Melbourne | WOFL | ||
| Philadelphia | WTXF | WCAU | WPVI |
| Phoenix | KSAZ | ||
| Raleigh-Durham | WTVD | ||
| San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose | KTVU | KNTV | KGO |
| San Diego | KNSD | ||
| Seattle | KCPQ | ||
| Tampa/St. Petersburg | WTVT | ||
| Washington, DC | WTTG | WRC |
What do you get when you sign up for a Sling TV Pass?
Sling TV Passes are limited-time subscription options that are available with Sling’s Orange plan. Passes let customers sign up for Sling Orange for $5 per day, $10 for three days, or $15 for one week. It’s a great way to watch one specific sports game on ESPN or ESPN2 without having to pay for a month of Sling Orange or another streaming service that offers ESPN sports, but only provides monthly sign-up options.
Unfortunately, Sling TV Passes are not available with Sling’s Blue package or any of the service’s other plans. Passes can only be purchased for watching Sling’s Orange plan.
Does Sling Blue or Sling Orange cost more?
Both Sling Orange and Sling Blue have a base monthly price of $46 per month. But the price of Sling Blue can rise as high as $55 per month if viewers get local channels with their subscription; Sling has a surcharge of $4 per month if viewers get one or two local channels in their area with Sling Blue, or $9 if they get all three.
Can you combine the channels of Sling Orange and Sling Blue?
Yes, you can combine all the channels found in Sling Orange and Sling Blue in your market by opting for the Sling Orange and Blue package. This plan starts at $61 per month, but is also subject to the same local channel surcharges described above for customers who get ABC, Fox, or NBC in their market.
Why do Sling Orange and Sling Blue come with different channels?
The answer to this can get a bit technical, but to put it simply, companies that own the cable channels that Sling TV (and other distributors) carry in their plans charge different amounts for the right to carry those channels. ESPN is the most expensive cable channel on the market, so Sling TV puts it in its own plan to help control the cost of its offerings.
The absence of the expensive ESPN networks in Sling Blue means the package can offer more individual channels for the same price. It’s a trade-off Sling offers because it knows different customers will prioritize sports and other programming to varying degrees, and wants to offer greater choice without a huge variance in price.
Sling TV
Sling TV is The Streamable’s choice for cord-cutters on a budget. Sling is a live TV streaming service with multiple channel packages. The $45.99/month Sling Orange plan offers about 30 channels, including Disney Channel and ESPN. The $45.99/month Sling Blue plan offers about 40 channels, including ABC, Fox, and NBC in major markets.
You can combine Orange+Blue for a total of $60.99 / month. Sling also offers many channel add-on packages starting at $6/month.