Why Sling TV Is Now The Best Service For Live Sports In 4K

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man –Follow me on X.

Sling TV, the multi-channel live streaming service owned by Dish, yesterday began offering live sports in 4K, starting with last tonight’s upscaled 4K broadcast of the 2024 MLB All-Star Game from Fox. The Sling Blue plan also will let you watch USA Network upscaled 4K feed of this month’s 2024 Paris Olympics Games.

The 4K addition comes more than nine years after Sling TV first launched and six years after Fubo became the first multi-channel live streamer to provide live sports in 4K. (DIRECTV Stream and YouTube TV also have live sports in 4K.) However, Sling is now the best service for fans who want to watch sports in the format. (If you live in one of the 16 markets where it’s now offered. See below.)

Why do I say that?

Sling TV’s Blue package, which includes more than 40 channels, including Fox, is available for just $40 a month. That means you can watch Fox’s upscaled 4K broadcasts of college football and basketball and other sports, for roughly half the price as Fubo (Fubo’s 4K packages start at $89.99 a month.) and DIRECTV Stream (packages start at $79.99 a month.) YouTube TV’s base plans start at $72.99 a month but it costs an extra $9.99 to include the 4K add-on.

The Blue plan does not include ESPN, which offers college football and basketball in 4K, because the sports network is in the Sling Orange plan. However, you can get both Blue and Orange for $55 a month which is still less than the other live streamers.

Now, there is a caveat to this argument. Sling TV’s 4K service is only available in the following markets:

Atlanta
Austin/Houston
Chicago
Dallas
Detroit
Los Angeles
Milwaukee
Minneapolis
New York
Orlando
Oakland
Philadelphia
Phoenix
San Francisco
Seattle
Washington, D.C.

But if you live in one of those 16 markets, the price is right if you’re a 4K enthusiast.

Have a question about new TV technologies? Send it to The TV Answer Man at swann@tvanswerman.com Please include your first name and hometown in your message.

The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered the TV technology scene for more than three decades. He will report on the latest news and answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch television. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.