Q. Over the last several months, I will be watching Sling TV and the picture will go black screen for a second or two. It then goes right back to the show I’m watching. Is this normal? Is there anything I can do about it? — Danica, Panama City, Florida.
Danica, this has been a recurring issue for some Sling TV subscribers for several months. I have seen it happen, too, and I have received several e-mails from readers complaining of the problem. You are watching a show when suddenly the picture flickers and goes to a totally blank screen. Then, after a few seconds, it goes right back to the program.
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The snafu has affected so many Sling viewers that the live streaming service has established a separate Help page with tips on how to fix it.
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Sling says the picture flickering is most commonly caused by a temporary lapse in bandwidth being delivered to your streaming device. Basically that means the stream is being temporarily interrupted by either a glitch in your Internet service or Sling’s servers.
The live streaming service suggests a few things to fix it.
One, click on the ‘My TV’ feature on your screen. Then, go to ‘Settings,’ and then ‘Connection.’ Try setting the Connection limit to ‘High’ and then go back to your show. If the flickering to black screen continues to occur, Sling says try setting Connection on Medium.
If that doesn’t solve the problem, try watching another channel for a minute or so. If you don’t see the picture go to black there, then return to your original show to see if the flickering has stopped there as well.
I have found that has worked for me.
Danica, hope that helps.
Happy viewing!
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I have tried all these options and none of them have worked. Do other streaming services experience the same problem?
I have not experienced this with any other streaming service (IE:Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Playstation Vue, Philo) Have used and continue to use some of these with no streaming issues. Sling suggested it was a problem with my internet service indicating it was too slow. Multiple speed tests using several different services indicate my download speeds to be consistently around 35 Mbs, upload around 3 Mbs. So, more than likely it is a Sling server issue, but, they don’t seem to be worried about it at all. I have started several “tickets” with them with no positive results. Unfortunately, Sling is the only service available to me that has the combination of channels I am interested in, so, I just live with it for now. I have to admit watching a show like this is quite irritating.
I started having the same issue today. And like you no problem on other streaming services, Netflix and etc. At first I thought it was due to so many people being on the Internet now with the C-virus, and my Spectrum system is slow. But since everything else works ok, I’ll put a ticket in. Good luck
I followed the steps but didn’t find where “Connections” was located under “Settings”.
I’ve had Sling on a Roku Ultra for over a year and just started noticing these “blackouts” recently (within the last past week or so). They seem to occur quite often now but more on some channels than others. I tried adjusting my connection setting down but the problem persisted.
got rid of it and went to the streaming service with Comcast/Xfinity. No blackouts since.
This is just a lazy answer. The black screen happens on some TVs, but it doesn’t happen on others. I have two TVs, both equal distance away from the router. My Samsung TV always has the problem, but my Roku TV doesn’t. I play the Roku one on high quality and the Samsung one on low. You guys obviously have a platform base issue with your app. Stop blaming it on the bandwidth and actually solve the issue. By the way, I’m a software engineer, so don’t try to BS me
Sounds like you’re itching for a fight? I’m interested
I have the same problem. I have a new samsung tv and have tried everything with no luck. I also have a older sharp tv which works fine. I will be switching. I have been a tv engineer and a retired software engineer.
Excellent comment from the SW engineer. I’m a network engineer and I agree 100%, that blaming the internet connection is an excuse. I have 3 TVs and the problem only happens with the TV using a Fire Stick which is actually the closest TV to the WiFi router. Additionally, this same TV has no problem at all with other 3 streaming services I use for movies and series. Only Sling on my Fire TV has this problem and it happens every day. Because it started a few months ago, it sounds like a platform issue likely caused by a past upgrade either on Sling or Fire TV code.
so how can i solve this?
I have this issue on my Samsung S8+. I’ve tried all of their suggestions to troubleshoot and I’m still getting the black screen. I’ve now tried another streaming TV service (YouTube TV) and I don’t have the same black screen issue. Looks like Sling is just not providing support to this particular issue, nor does it care if their customers move to another service.
Bandwidth issues? Doesn’t happen to Netflix or Amazon so stop blaming my connection speed it’s the app.
Great comments here. It’s lazy and insulting to say that bandwidth is the problem. I have tried all their troubleshooting steps, called Sling tech support, no solution. I tested my speed using tv browser, it consistently shows 50-100mbps. It is a platform issue or bad code in the Sling app. Apparently this has been going on for two years and Sling is not trying to fix it. As I type this, my tv continues to black out. Already I am pissed that Sling keeps increasing price and bundling junk channels just like cable tv. Soon, a real competitor will come along and I will switch.
Mine actually only does on the one tv that is directy plugged into my modem. My laptop that barely has a signal never freezes or goes black.
Thank everyone for the feedback. I have signed up for the 7 days free trial and I have multiples Samsung Smart TVs and the TV close to the modem has the issues. I have superb Wifi speed and do not have this issue with Netflix or Hulu. As I was composing this response, my Tv’s screen blacked out again. I will not become a customer with this unresolved issues or recommend this service to a friend.
I would agree with you. I’m thinking about canceling my service. I’ve had it for over a year, no problem until now. Never could get the free 10 DVR hours, so ended up having to purchase the 50 hrs for extra money. Bill now up to almost $40.00. Good luck!
I got their non-human help for this problem I’m beginning to have it’s Black Ops the little circle in the middle just rotating like there’s no tomorrow trying to load it won’t load then it tells me there’s a problem with my internet there’s no problem with my internet man and that’s fine it’s with sling itself I’ve never had this problem before until I had it shut off and return to service at which it went from $20 to Thirty when it got 30 that’s when I started having all the problems that wind up in the service got shotty I’m not happy they need to fix this problem some way or another because I’m not going to continue to pay this at this price and put up with this kind of service I will go to the BBB and turn it in I am entitled I am a senior living on disability and this is just ripping me off fix the problem folks
I agree with you. Just started having problems through the computer app. No picture but did have sound. Tried mobile, picture but intermittent sound. I get the whole COVID-19 and we have to work offsite spiel; but damn! This is a billion dollar company with, what should be, the resources necessary to take care of their paying customers. Interruptions of service at this scale should be minimal or nonexistent. Where’s the fail-over? Where’s the redundancy? Use some of your profits for infrastructure and a lot less for your executives and a little less for your stockholders who I’m sure number among your customers as well. Hope you’re all well and please stay safe!
I agree with you. Just started having problems through the computer app. No picture but did have sound. Tried mobile, picture but intermittent sound. I get the whole COVID-19 and we have to work offsite spiel; but damn! This is a billion dollar company with, what should be, the resources necessary to take care of their paying customers. Interruptions of service at this scale should be minimal or nonexistent. Where’s the fail-over? Where’s the redundancy? Use some of your profits for infrastructure and a lot less for your executives and a little less for your stockholders who I’m sure number among your customers as well. Hope you’re all well and please stay safe!
The only browser that works for me is Chrome.
Sling has been very blurry on live sports games.. the Last Dance is very blurry as well. Then tv just goes black..kicks me out.. I have a Samsung 4k 8 generation tv.. I have issues with sling only. I have tried Ethernet connection and the wireless.. both do it. that is only on sling… I’m going to leave Sling
Using ethernet connection with the same results. Changed setting per their suggestion, an blackout happened within minutes…been checking out happy hour to see about changing from philo, but think I’ll stick with the quality I’ve grown accustomed to…
I like all the channels that sling gives you but I’m sick of it cutting out all the time. Why does it keep doing this?
SAME EXACT PROBLEM as all the above. I contacted Sling they supposedly did a reboot on their end and I still have aill the buffering issues.i then cancelled,. AFTER cancelling I was able to still watch all my shows on Sling until that paid month was over. Guess what? I had no buffering issues, no commercials and Sling worked perfect. So I decided to sign back up thinking Sling had fixed THEIR buffering issues….NO. The minute I signed up and loaded my credit card, the same buffering issues are back. I AM CANCELLING AGAIN on the 28th of December. I win, I will find another way to watch TLC…. It’s crazy to pay $30 a month for my TLC channel. BTW, I keep seeing Discovery+ advertising starting on January 4rh, 2021. The Discovery+ service is NEW and it includes TLC for $4.99/month. Bye-Bye Sling. Your service stinks.
I want to know why sling through roku will start to replay previously broadcast content of the game I’m watching about 1/2 through the second half. It goes black or there are 10 minutes of commercials at a t v timeout and when it comes back they start broadcasting from the halftime break. Who’s controlling that?
We will be watching a program and all of a sudden it will go black, sometimes it come right back on other times it will go back to what we have already seen. It is very annoying.