Sling TV Has Launched a New $5 Streaming Option. Find Out Where and How to Get It

Over rising streaming subscription prices? Sling TV may have the fix for you.

In the lead-up to the fast-approaching college football season, Sling TV has announced the introduction of three passes to its current lineup of streaming plans.

These temporary streaming options, which include a 24-hour Day Pass, a three-day Weekend pass, and a seven-day Week pass, are aimed at sports fans who want the flexibility to pick and choose when they watch, with no contracts or subscriptions required.

This move from Sling TV is likely in response to the upcoming August 21 release of two new ESPN and Fox streaming services, which will eliminate the cable middleman and deliver these sports-heavy channels directly to consumers.

Keep reading for all the details on what these Sling TV passes entail—and if you should get them.

What Sling TV Passes are available?

Sling TV describes the three passes—Day, Weekend, and Week—as follows:

• Day Pass ($4.99): Instant 24-hour access. Perfect for a big game, an awards show, or an impromptu movie night.
• Weekend Pass ($9.99): Access from Friday to Sunday. Ideal for a weekend of games, a movie marathon, or catching up on a show.
• Week Pass ($14.99): 7-day access. Great for a week-long tournament, watching a new series, or keeping the family entertained on break.

These passes, which are targeted at sports fans, will include access to popular networks on the Sling Orange plan like ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, TBS, TNT, and more. (For all of the channels available on Sling Orange, check out our Sling TV channel lineup page.)

Senior VP of Product and Operations at Sling TV, Seth Van Sickel, frames these Passes as a way to increase consumer autonomy.

“This launch is about putting control back in the hands of the fans, whether it’s tuning in for college football, professional sports, award shows, or a spontaneous movie night, all without having to sign a long-term, binding contract.”

This aligns with one of the most significant advantages of streaming services over traditional TV: flexibility, with no contracts and no bulky equipment to install (and then inevitably send back to the company when you decide to cancel).

Streaming services like Sling TV have long touted their flexibility over cable, but as more services offer discounts on annual plans—which effectively create a one-year contract for those who purchase them—their claim grows weaker by the day. These Passes seem designed to bring back that flexibility.

Are Sling TV Passes worth it?

I just wrote an article on NFL Sunday Ticket deals, and as I was scouring the internet for info, I came across many disgruntled NFL fans lamenting how Sunday Ticket doesn’t offer a cheaper, more streamlined version of its service for individual teams. Instead, if you’re just, say, a Steelers fan, you’ll still be paying for tons of games you won’t watch for tons of teams you don’t care about.

I feel like Sling is targeting a similar niche with this launch. Allowing customers to pick and choose when they watch is an attractive alternative for folks who may be stuck with a $500 nonrefundable subscription.

In short, I think Sling TV’s Day, Weekend, and Week passes will be worth it to the casual sports fan who wants to tune into a game here and there on cable that’s not available with a digital antenna. If you watch a lot of sports, however, it’ll probably just be worth it to snag the $45.99/mo. Sling Orange subscription, which’ll save you money in the long run.