CES: SlingTV Called Game-Changer For Cord Cutters

The growing movement of customers seeking to end their cable television subscriptions gained another option on Monday at the International Consumer Electronics Show, as Dish Network unveiled its new Sling TV Web-based video service that will feature ESPN – the sports network that is one of cable’s prized assets.

Accortding to US News&World Report, the service will launch in the first quarter of 2015 for $20 per month and will play video on devices ranging from tablets to game consoles, Roger Lynch, CEO of Dish subsidiary Sling TV, said in a press release. Sling TV joins the growing number of services that have taken the lead from companies like Amazon and Netflix to offer programming not tied to cable or satellite television subscriptions, which charge customers for bundles of channels.

“Consumers can now watch their favorite shows on their favorite devices that they already use to watch video. Live television, including ESPN, for $20 per month with no commitment or contract, is a game-changer,” Lynch said. “The arrival of Sling TV lets consumers, who’ve embraced services like Netflix and Hulu, take more control of their video entertainment experience.”

The stand-alone services and cord-cutting trend may pressure cable companies like Comcast to offer simpler subscription plans, since sports networks like ESPN and premium shows on HBO are among the biggest draws for a cable package.

However, Variety notes Sling's key drawbacks:

• No broadcast TV content. To Todd Spangler, NY Ditigal Editor for Variety, this is a big Achilles’ heel. For Dish, this is a big black hole in the lineup, given that broadcast is home to numerous popular primetime shows and live sports. 
• Large swaths of cable TV aren’t available. Sling TV initially is providing two optional, premium tiers of additional networks for $5 per month each: “Kids Extra” with Disney Junior, Disney XD, Boomerang, Baby TV and something called Duck TV; and a “News & Info Extra” add-on with HLN, Cooking Channel, DIY and Bloomberg TV. Are those worth 5 bucks each? 
• No DVR. You can’t record shows on Sling TV. Instead, the service provides a “catch-up” on-demand feature with access to the last three to seven days of each channel’s shows.
• Limited to a single video stream per account. The limitation is designed to make sure Sling TV doesn’t become a replacement for full-blown pay TV by preventing multiple members of a household from watching different channels at the same time.
• It still requires Internet service from a cable or telco provider.