If you love sports and are leaving YouTube TV, consider Sling TV
If you love sports and are leaving YouTube TV, consider Sling TV
YouTube TV recently announced a price hike to $83 per month, and fans can watch many of the same sports channels with Sling and save big!
YouTube TV was one of the last holdouts amongst live TV streaming services that increased prices in 2024. Nevertheless, the streamer announced in December that effective immediately for new subscribers, it was raising its base plan price from $73 per month to $83. That news was a big blow to sports lovers, as YouTube TV has a great selection of national sports channels in its plan.
If you’re planning to leave YouTube TV when the price increases for existing subscribers in January, I’ve got a fantastic alternative for you: Sling TV. This service carries many of the same sports channels as YouTube TV, and at $46 per month is almost half the price. Check out a more detailed comparison below!
Why YouTube TV cancelers should check out Sling TV
Which national sports channels from YouTube TV are available on Sling TV?
The overlap of major sports channels between YouTube TV and Sling TV is pretty big. Both streamers carry ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, FS1, TBS, TNT, truTV, and USA Network. Sling splits some of these channels between its Orange and Blue packages, but customers can either combine the two plans together in the Sling Orange and Blue package for $61 per month or change between the Orange and Blue packages any time they want for free.
| Sling TV | YouTube | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Get 50% OFF | Sign Up | |||
| $45.99 | $45.99 | $82.99 | ||
| ESPN | ✓ | - | ✓ | |
| ESPN2 | ✓ | - | ✓ | |
| FS1 | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Fox Sports 2 | - | + $11 | ✓ | |
| TBS | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| TNT | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| USA Network | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
The only major difference is that Sling TV doesn’t carry FS2 in its base plans. Viewers have to sign up for the Sports Extra add-on pack to get it, for an extra $11 per month.
Which pro sports channels from YouTube TV are available on Sling TV?
NFL Network, NBA TV, NHL Network, and MLB Network often feature exclusive games, plus studio shows and other content that you won’t find on national sports networks. Once again, Sling carries most of these in its Sports Extra pack, but even adding that to Sling’s base channel packages isn’t as expensive as YouTube TV.
That’s before mentioning that neither the MLB Network nor NHL Network are available on YouTube TV at all. So, not only do you pay less for pro sports channels on Sling TV, but you also get more for your money as well.
| Sling TV | YouTube | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Get 50% OFF | Sign Up | |||
| $45.99 | $45.99 | $82.99 | ||
| MLB Network | + $11 | + $11 | - | |
| NBA TV | + $11 | + $11 | ✓ | |
| NFL Network | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
| NFL RedZone | - | + $11 | + $11 | |
| NHL Network | + $11 | + $11 | - | |
Which college sports channels from YouTube TV are available on Sling TV?
On the face of it, this is one category where it would appear YouTube TV has the advantage over Sling TV. YouTube TV carries top college sports channels like ACC Network and SEC Network in its base channel package, whilst Sling forces you to buy the Sports Extra pack for an extra $11 per month. But a price comparison quickly reveals that even with the Sports Extra pack added, a Sling Orange or Blue plan costs $57 per month, still $26 less than a YouTube TV base channel plan.
| Sling TV | YouTube | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Get 50% OFF | Sign Up | |||
| $45.99 | $45.99 | $82.99 | ||
| ACC Network | + $11 | - | ✓ | |
| ACC Network Extra | + $11 | - | ✓ | |
| Big Ten Network | - | + $11 | ✓ | |
| CBS Sports Network | - | - | ✓ | |
| ESPNU | + $11 | - | ✓ | |
| SEC Network | + $11 | - | ✓ | |
| truTV | + $6 | ✓ | ✓ | |
Which regional sports networks from YouTube TV are on Sling TV?
This is one category of sports channel where YouTube TV has a clear advantage over Sling TV, but that advantage is pretty slight. YouTube TV doesn’t carry a large selection of regional sports networks (RSNs), only those from NBC Sports. Even so, that beats out Sling TV, which does not offer any RSNs in any base plan or add-on.
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.