Sling TV Undercuts Disney with ESPN Offer

Sling TV has launched Sling Essentials, an internet-streaming TV package designed to provide access to ESPN and ESPN2 for a monthly fee of $19.99. This new offering is presented as a significantly more affordable alternative to Disney's stand-alone ESPN Unlimited service, which costs $29.99 per month. Sling Essentials includes 12 channels in total, featuring ESPN, ESPN2, Disney Channel, Freeform, and several classic TV networks.

This move comes as Dish Network and Disney are involved in an ongoing legal dispute. The conflict initially centered on Sling TV's short-term subscription plans, with Disney alleging violations of their carriage agreement. A federal judge previously ruled in favor of Dish, denying Disney's request to block these plans. Dish has since countersued, accusing Disney of antitrust violations and breaching their contract.

The Sling Essentials package includes 50 hours of DVR storage, with an option for unlimited storage at an additional $5 per month. Customers can also enhance their subscription with add-on programming packs. Additionally, Sling TV offers a bundle that combines Sling Essentials with Sling Select for $34.99 per month, providing access to channels like Fox News and FS1.