Sling TV Offers ESPN Plan For Just $19.99 a Month
Do you think ESPN’s Unlimited app is too expensive at $29.99 a month? Well, Sling TV has a solution for you with its new $19.99 ‘Sling Essentials’ plan which includes ESPN and ESPN2 among other channels.
The package does not include other ESPN channels that can be found on the Unlimited app such as SEC Network and ACC Network. But it does include the two most popular ESPN channels as well as the Disney Channel, Freeform, Game Show Network, Lifetime Movies, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, Bounce, MeTV, startTV, GRIT and Heroes & Icons.
Sling TV’s regular base plan which includes ESPN (the Orange plan) costs $45.99 a month but now the EchoStar-owned streaming service has undercut the sports network’s new app with a cheaper offering. This will undoubtedly irk the Disney company which has already sued Sling TV over its short-term viewing passes which include ESPN for $4.99 a day. (Disney owns ESPN.)
However, Sling TV, like other pay TV providers, are searching for ways to bring today’s cost-conscious cord-cutters into the fold.
“Sling Essentials is the ultimate live streaming solution for viewers who want premium content without a bloated bundle,” said Seth Van Sickel, Senior Vice President, Sling TV. “By delivering an unbeatable price for ESPN alongside top family and classic TV networks, Sling TV remains the industry leader in affordable entertainment.”
The Sling Essentials plan also includes 50 hours of free DVR recording in the cloud. (You can upgrade to unlimited DVR recording for $5 a month.) The service also includes access to Sling Freestream which provides more than 600 free channels.
Why Is Disney Suing Sling TV?
Disney is suing Sling TV over the live streaming service’s decision to include ESPN in its new short-term plans, including a $4.99 day pass.
The company says Sling is not authorized under their carriage agreement to include the sports network in the short-term plans. The streamer in August 2025 introduced three new plans that allow consumers to watch its lineup for a day, weekend or week. The prices start at $4.99 for the day pass.
Disney is asking the courts to order Sling to remove ESPN from all three short-term plans. The company’s effort to get a temporary injunction has been defeated but the case continues.
“Sling TV’s new offerings, which they made available without our knowledge or consent, violate the terms of our existing license agreement,” Disney said in a statement. “We have asked the court to require Dish to comply with our deal when it distributes our programming.”
The short-term passes could hurt Disney’s efforts to sign up subscribers for ESPN’s new Unlimited app which includes live feeds of all ESPN channels and on-demand programming. Consumers could opt to pay Sling a one-time fee to watch a big game on ESPN rather than pay $29.99 for a full month of the ESPN standalone app.
Sling TV says the suit is without merit and has filed a counter anti-trust suit against Disney.
Who Should Get the $19.99 Sling Plan?
If you are a sports fan who thinks the network’s Unlimited app is too expensive, this one is for you. You can watch ESPN’s two most popular channels – and get other channels – for $10 a month less than what you pay for the app.
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