Dish Network’s streaming pay television service Sling TV will adjust the price of its two base programming packages by $6 per month, the company affirmed in a note sent to subscribers this week.
The price increase is intended to accommodate new contracts with network owners, who have raised certain fees that Dish and others must pay for the privilege of offering channels to subscribers.
“The price we pay to provide you with the programming you enjoy continues to increase well above the pace of inflation,” Dish told customers by email this week. “We actively fight every day on your behalf to keep costs as low as possible.”
As is typical when programmers raise prices on pay TV distributors, the adjusted costs are passed on to subscribers in their bills. Accordingly, Dish says it will raise the price of its ESPN-inclusive Sling Orange package by $6 per month, while also hiking the cost of its Sling Blue package by the same $6 per month.
The end result is that most customers who do not receive their local ABC station through Sling Orange or Fox and NBC stations through Sling Blue will pay $46 per month for Sling TV — far less than what other sports-inclusive services like YouTube TV, Hulu with Live TV and Fubo charge, but still above comparable entertainment services like Philo and Frndly TV.
The cost adjustments will start appearing on customers starting December 20.
It is the first price hike for Sling TV in nearly two years, and comes after the service renewed its distribution agreements with the Walt Disney Company (ESPN, ABC, Disney Channel, FX), Fox Corporation (Fox News Channel, Fox Sports 1) and Paramount Global.
While the price hike is likely to frustrate some long-time customers who feel their options to find an affordable pay TV service is becoming rather limited, Sling TV has good news for fans of their Arcade feature: More games are coming.
Starting today, Sling TV subscribers can play Pac-Man, Trivia Crack, Dots and a dozen other games thanks to the company’s ongoing partnership with software developer Play Works.
“Arcade gives our subscribers the chance to enjoy a completely new entertainment experience that goes beyond TV,” said Gary Schanman, the Group President of Dish Video Services. “Our latest game additions bring beloved and interactive titles to our users, allowing them to easily shift from watching their favorite show to playing games — all without switching devices.”
Sling TV’s gaming feature is available through the Sling TV app on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV (Google TV), Samsung, LG, Vizio and Comcast’s Xfinity boxes.
