I'm testing Sling TV to cut the cord — here's the pros and cons

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I'm testing Sling Telly to cut the string — here'south the pros and cons

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I'1000 more than ready to cut the cord, but I'g not certain which streaming service volition arrange me best. I spent nigh a calendar week with Sling Goggle box, the third of the best cable TV alternatives I've tested. And correct now I tin can see myself using it, though I'm not exactly super-happy nigh that idea either.

Sling Tv Cheat sheet

Cost: $35 per month (tested Sling Blueish)
Channels: More than than 40
DVR: 50 hours (or 200 hours for an extra $v per calendar month)
Simultaneous streams: 3
Broadcast networks: Play a joke on and NBC

That's because while Sling Goggle box may be almost-perfect for my channels-to-price needs, it's not exactly stellar as an app. Navigating live programming, and rewinding and fast forwarding, seemed every bit bad (or worse) than cable, depending on which version of the Sling app I was testing (their new version is available on Roku Ultra and Fire TV, while Apple tvOS and other platforms and devices are all the same on the old ane).

Sling's major competition for my dollar is YouTube TV, which impressed with a snappy and responsive app that works as information technology should. Unfortunately, non all of its competitors can say that much. Hulu with Live TV, for example, didn't evidence stable enough for my liking.

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To recap how I got here, I want to cut the cord considering of the cable box'due south archaic nature, merely my roommates don't want to give upwards their specific channels. So I'm planning on getting rid of my cable box, and telling them that their $127 per calendar month cable bill is their problem. I'll fifty-fifty offer to let them share my business relationship with me.

My goal is that somewhere in this experiment I convince them information technology's time for all of u.s.a. to wave good day to cable. Maybe I can find the set of channels they want in a service we like. Only that'due south not as likely, as they're big Yankees fans and the Yes Network is stuck on DirecTV Stream, formerly known as AT&T Television set.

Where Sling TV beats (or matches) cable

The new Sling TV app home screen (Epitome credit: Henry T. Casey)

Y'all can't e'er be home to lookout things alive, which is i of the many reasons I am walking abroad from Spectrum. Its iPhone app only lets you watch select channels live if you're out of the house. Sling Boob tube on the other hand, has no such limitations.

Then when I found myself ii levels beneath the street on a NYC subway platform, every bit a pleasant dark out was winding down, I was able to tune into the live broadcast of All Elite Wrestling's Wednesday Night Dynamite program on my iPhone. I could even showtime from the beginning (more on where Sling fails to offering that beneath).

(Paradigm credit: Henry T. Casey)

Bated from that, Sling TV's biggest win against cablevision comes at the bottom line. While Sling Blue but offers around 40+ channels, its $35-per-month rate is far more palatable than the $127 we're spending for cable right at present.

Sling's mobile app also amend than YouTube TV at showing y'all what'southward off in the nearly-future, as the guide view lets yous scroll days ahead into the future. Hulu's offering is similar, as is Spectrum'due south. YouTube TV just presents a single column stack of what's alive correct at present channels.

Also, Sling TV (like Hulu and Spectrum) offers picture-in-motion-picture show support on iOS, which YouTube Boob tube doesn't.

Where Sling fails against cable (and YouTube TV)

Sling TV'due south new app's DVR section (Image credit: Henry T. Casey)

My beginning hiccup with Sling Television receiver is ane that volition be a matter of the past in due fourth dimension. Scrolling through the Guide menu, which organizes everything chronologically, like a traditional cable box, the Sling TV app on the new Apple tree TV 4K was boring as heck to load the guide if I scrolled with whatever decent speed. And this is something that I hit on the Chromecast with Google Boob tube as well, and it's just a sign of why Sling is moving away from this app to the new app launching platform-by-platform, starting with Burn down TV and the Roku Ultra.

My biggest consequence with Sling, though, the fact that it felt similar its live TV isn't as live as cable or even YouTube Idiot box. As I've noted in the previous editions of this series, I will picket some live events and talk well-nigh them in the moment with friends on a Discord and on social media. And every bit I watched Monday Night Raw, my friend and colleague Sherri L. Smith of Laptop Mag was notably ahead of me.

Alive TV isn't always every bit live (Image credit: Henry T. Casey)

When I got out my stopwatch, I establish out that Sling TV was upwards to 70 seconds backside live TV. This might not sound like a lot to some, especially if you don't keep up in the alive churr with others, but it's an annoyance for me. YouTube Telly was also "behind" cablevision, but past less than half as much time, with a range of a twenty to 30-second filibuster.

The 2nd and tertiary frustrating parts about Sling Boob tube came when I wanted to rewind and fast-forward live content. On the Apple TV 4K and on Chromecast, on the quondam Sling Television app, yous don't have the DVR section, which makes it harder to bound to the commencement of an episode of live Telly — it but tries to throw you into the middle of the episode. And mayhap that'southward skillful for some live events, but I'm watching TV (mostly) for a narrative, and context is king.

So, when I was trying to fast-frontward around, I noticed that the new Sling app is merely as bad every bit cablevision Television set. I don't know if all cable boxes are as bad as my Spectrum box is almost this, only I always hated scanning through anything on cable, because it would always driblet you lot downwardly many moments after you click play to stop the rewinding or fast-forwarding.

(Image credit: Henry T. Casey)

The new Sling app, available on the Roku Ultra and Fire TV, has this method of fast forwarding with 3 different speeds of scanning. I always got sent furthest-away from the mark I wanted to start at, when rewinding or fast forwarding at the fastest speed, so I air current upwardly using the slowest setting. Which is not a skillful compromise. The old Sling app just gives you a timeline y'all drag a marker around, similar to YouTube TV. The only difference is that YouTube Television receiver's a bit more accurate than Sling when it comes to resuming playback at the frame you desire.

These may audio like minor annoyances, but if I'm going to exist paying for something, I want the best user feel out in that location — a big reason why I'm ditching cablevision is that it seems to exist the worst of the worst (except for channel choice).

Does Sling Goggle box hit the sweet spot for channels and price?

(Image credit: Henry T. Casey)

This may be where Sling TV wins out overall, despite having an app that I find junior to YouTube Television set. At $35 per calendar month, Sling Blue has all the channels I rely on (though none of the ones that would be overnice to have downward the road.

That starts with USA and TNT, where I get both pro wrestling and playoff basketball, and FX for prestige Boob tube. And then, there's One-act Central and the Food Network, for some good comfort Television receiver. I want NBC and Cartoon Network because I continue to begrudgingly sentry Saturday Nighttime Live and Rick and Morty. And, of grade, CNN and MSNBC for live news.

(Image credit: Henry T. Casey)

The lack of ESPN in Sling Blue — information technology's only on Sling Orange — is annoying, and could be the kind of thing that pushes me to actually get to YouTube TV. Because in order for me to go USA, FX and NBC, I demand Sling Blueish. And Sling Orange + Blue costs $50 per month. Which is shut enough to YouTube TV's $65 per calendar month price that I might pay the extra for the added value of the better app.

Once more, Sling TV takes an 50 on the Roommates Test, defective PBS, Yes and BBC Earth News. That said, PBS is attainable for donors via the 13 Passport. It would but be nice to have it packaged in with everything else.

Answering your cord-cutting emails

Reader Scott wrote in to inquire what device I'one thousand testing these services on, and the answer is just "every ane that I'd actually like to use." Every bit nosotros review and exam streaming devices, I've tested these services out on multiple platforms and devices including the Apple tree Television 4K (2021), Chromecast with Google Tv set and Roku Ultra (2020). Yes, I fifty-fifty tested YouTube Goggle box via the YouTube app on the Roku, since Google and Roku are in a spat at the moment.

For this, that meant a lot because the Roku Ultra is the only device that I'd use that also has the new Sling app. (It'due south also on Fire Tv devices, which I do not adopt). The big perk here, aside from a slicker interface, was the new DVR section, which made information technology easier to offset a testify already in progress from the kickoff. Much like Hulu, Sling'due south leaving a bit to be desired in this expanse — while YouTube Television lets you just leap right in and scroll around.

Sling Telly is a contender to supercede cable

Now having tested three of the best cablevision TV alternatives, we've got ourselves a competition. Sling wins on pricing for my detail needs, though fourth dimension volition tell equally to if I need ESPN or non. If I decide I want the cocky-titled World Broad Leader in Sports, the bump to $50 per month for Sling Orange + Blue may be a flake too close to YouTube TV's rate.

As I mentioned above, YouTube Tv'due south superior live Television set rewinding and fast forwarding, as well as its lower delay against the alive feed of cablevision, make it my favorite if money were no option. However, a yr of YouTube Goggle box is $780, which is 85% more than than the $420 per yr for Sling Blue.

String-cutting power rankings and then far

Next upward, I'm going to accept Philo ($25 per month) for a spin, followed by Fubo TV and  the newly re-christened DirecTV Stream (the service fka AT&T Telly). Oddly enough, AT&T Tv set has the best chance of competing with YouTube Tv or Sling Tv. Even though I've been annoyed past the quality of the app over the years, Fubo lacks TNT and Philo has neither TNT nor U.s.a..

By the finish of this, I'll take plant the live TV service that replaces cablevision TV. Because Sling Television receiver'southward rewinding and fast-forwarding reminded me how much I desire to motion on from the by.

Stream Fourth dimension is where Tom's Guide senior editor Henry T. Casey dives into the big choices we make nearly streaming media. We tackle it all, from the best and worst streaming services and devices, to the never-ending list of shows to watch.

Exist sure to check out my guides to the all-time streaming devices  (and best streaming services ) for more than recommendations. Email me at henry.casey@futurenet.com or leave a comment beneath with anything you'd like to see me encompass in the streaming globe — I might only accost it in a future installment.

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Henry is a senior editor at Tom'south Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past six-plus years. Prior to joining Tom'due south Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's as well covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/news/im-testing-sling-tv-to-cut-the-cord-heres-the-pros-and-cons

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