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Dish Network

Sling TV streaming-video service open for business

Mike Snider
USA TODAY
A screenshot of the new Sling TV service on a tablet showing ESPN's SportCenter.

Dish Network's Internet-delivered subscription video service Sling TV is officially open for streaming.

Customers can get a free seven-day trial of the service, which starts at $20 monthly, and watch more than a dozen live, linear channels including CNN, ESPN, Disney Channel, HGTV, TBS and TNT.

The arrival of Sling TV could shake-up the entire pay-TV industry. Many potential cord-cutters remain pay-TV subscribers because they want sports programming. Sling TV is the first offering to include ESPN and TBS and TNT, which also have sports including the NBA.

If consumers flock to Sling TV, which doesn't have live programming from major networks such as ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and PBS, it could weaken broadcasters' position in negotiations of fees for cable, satellite and online carriage of their signals, said Brett Sappington, director of research at consulting firm Parks Associates.

"If Sling TV is successful without broadcast channels, that could be a real wake-up call to the big broadcasters," he said.

Sling TV is designed to appeal especially to Millennials who may not want pay-TV service, CEO Roger Lynch says. While many younger adult consumers (82%) do have pay-TV service, that's lower than the 87% of older consumers who have pay TV, Parks finds.

In the coming weeks, Sling TV's programming package will get even better. A deal with AMC Networks will bring AMC to Sling TV's core $20 package in the coming weeks. Other AMC channels to be available will include: BBC America, BBC World News, IFC, SundanceTV and WE tv.

"We flipped the switch this morning opening up Sling TV to all consumers, and we're giving them something they've been asking for: AMC," Lynch said in a statement. "Soon Sling TV will deliver hits like The Walking Dead and Mad Men with AMC included in our core package. We found a great partner in AMC Networks with a wide range of popular channels to help us quickly make that a reality."

Sling TV also announced the roster of its Sports Extra package, available for an additional $5 each month: ESPNEWS, ESPNU, The SEC Network, Universal Sports, Univision Deportes, beIN Sports and live game day channels ESPN Buzzer Beater, ESPN Bases Loaded and ESPN Goal Line.

A Kids Extra package includes additional channels such as Disney XD and Disney Junior, while a News & Info package adds CNN Headline News and The Cooking Channel (each packages is $5 monthly).

On-demand movies such as Fury can be rented, too ($4.99 for HD, $3.99 for standard-def), and Sling has some DVR-like features in that some programs that have been aired in the last three days can be watched.

The Sling TV app is available on current-generation Roku and Roku TV devices, Android and iOS apps, as well as Windows and Macintosh computers. Support for Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick is expected soon.

A screenshot of the new Sling TV service on a tablet showing movies available for rental on demand.

Other devices Sling TV is targeted for in the coming months: Google's Nexus Player, webOS Smart TVs from LG Electronics, select Samsung Smart TVs and Xbox One.

Follow Mike Snider on Twitter: @MikeSnider

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