Should You Get Dish Network Or Sling TV?

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

TV Answer Man, I saw your article comparing DIRECTV satellite and streaming. How about Dish Network and its streamer, Sling TV? I have Dish but should I switch to Sling? – Jim, Boulder, Colorado.

Jim, Dish Network and its sister live streaming service, Sling TV, have some significant differences. So, if you’re unsure which one would be best for you, let’s go under the hood:

– Sling TV is cheaper – a lot cheaper. The Sling base Blue and Orange plans start at $45.99 a month while Dish’s cheapest base package is $72.99 (the Flex pack with 50 channels) a month. In addition, you can get Sling’s Blue plan, which includes Fox, for 50 percent off the first month. We should note that Dish offers the first three months for free to new customers.

– Sling TV does not require contracts while Dish’s three-month free deal requires you to sign a two-year commitment that includes a $20 a month penalty for every month left in the contract if you cancel early. Dish’s two-year commitment does come with a two-year price guarantee but many consumers are weary of long-term commitments.

– Dish has far more channels than Sling TV. The satellite service offers hundreds of channels while Sling’s Orange and Blue plans have 50 and 30 channels respectively. In addition, Sling does not carry CBS in any market and ABC in less than 10 markets.

– Sling TV requires you to have a reliable Internet service while Dish requires you to live where you have an unobstructed view of the southern sky. Depending upon your home location, either could be a deal breaker.

– Sling TV now offers short-term viewing passes ($4.99 for one day’s viewing; $9.99 for a weekend), a nice option for cord cutters looking to watch a single event. Dish does not have this feature. Note, however, that Sling’s short-term plans are only available for its Orange plan which includes ESPN but not Fox.

Both Dish and Sling TV do not carry regional sports networks and I would say their picture quality is similar although streaming is susceptible to buffering, particularly if you don’t have a good Internet service. So, bottom line, I would say Sling would be your choice if you don’t want to spend much and don’t mind missing some key channels. However, if you’re a more passionate TV viewer, Dish has the stronger lineup.

Jim, I hope that answers your question. Happy viewing and stay safe!

Please consider making a donation to The TV Answer Man site here at the Buy Me a Coffee site. Any donation size is appreciated and will help me continue to provide these articles to you.

Have a Question? Ask The TV Answer Man!
Have a question about a favorite show, streaming service or new TV product? Send it to The TV Answer Man at swann@tvanswerman.com. Please include your first name and hometown in your message.