Sling Tv launches Essentials package with ESPN and ESPN2 for $20
sling tv launched an Essentials package for $20 a month, giving customers, ESPN2 and a slate of other channels without moving to a larger live TV bundle. The package is aimed at antenna users who want a small number of extra cable channels.
The new plan costs $10 less than Unlimited, which Sling prices at $30 a month. Sling also says Essentials can be bundled with other Sling packages, while Sling Select can add local ABC, NBC or Fox stations in certain major cities.
Sling Essentials channels
Essentials includes Grit, Hallmark Mystery, Freeform, Disney Channel, MeTV, Game Show Network, H&I, LMN, Start TV and Bounce, along with and ESPN2. That mix gives the plan a way to cover sports, family programming and classic TV without the higher monthly charge tied to a fuller package.
Unlimited does not include ABC's sports programming, and Sling Essentials does not include +. 's other cable channels require an $11 monthly Sports Extra add-on.
AirTV and antenna users
The launch fits a pattern Sling has already built for antenna users. Sling parent company Dish Network started releasing AirTV networked tuners in 2018, letting people stream local channels from an antenna directly into the Sling app, and AirTV recordings can appear in Sling's DVR menu.
That hardware line has not been updated since 2020, so the new Essentials package gives those users a fresh way to add channels without replacing the antenna setup. In markets with at least one local channel, Sling Select rises by $5 a month; in markets with all three local channels, the price rises by $10 a month.
Dish Network's pricing path
The pricing leaves a clear split for viewers deciding between a lighter add-on and a broader live TV bundle. Essentials is the lower-cost route for people who mainly want and ESPN2, while Sling Select and Unlimited push monthly bills higher as more channels are added.
For households already using an antenna, the practical choice is whether they need only the channels in Essentials or want to pay more for local stations and a wider lineup. Sling's bundle options make that tradeoff explicit in dollars: $20 for Essentials, $30 for Unlimited, and additional charges for local stations or Sports Extra.
