Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Sling TV debuts Freestream, a totally free streaming service with 210+ channels

Sling TV's Freestream means there's another platform vying for your attention

If you’re looking for a way to gain access to over 200 channels without having to spend more than $40 monthly, the Dish Network subsidiary SLING TV has another novel offering for old and new customers alike. On what they deem National Cut the Cord Day, the live TV streamer is launching a new service called Sling Freestream.

You need a Roku device or an alternative such as Comcast, Samsung, LG, or Vizio to gain access to all Sling Freestream has to offer, but it has a lot to offer: The advertising-supported service offers more than 210 free channels and 41,000-plus on-demand titles.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Sling Freestream is supposed to help more people gain access to more affordable programming across a large variety of their favorite channels and now streaming services. You can access Freestream through the Sling app on Roku devices; rollout is also occurring across Comcast, LG, Samsung, Vizio and Xbox devices. No credit card is required, but users will have the option to subscribe to 50-plus standalone streaming services —such as AMC+, discovery+, MGM+, and SHOWTIME— or add a Sling Orange or Sling Blue base service. (The Sling Orange package has a defining trait separating it from the Sling Blue package: the availability of ESPN. For sports fans who want access to Monday Night Football, hundreds of NBA basketball games and NHL hockey games, and dozens of sports talk shows, the Sling Orange package is probably the way to go. For those who want NBC and FOX, they might decide on Sling Blue.)

Sling Freestream is also committed to growing and enhancing the product over the next few months with additional content and features like universal search functionality, enhanced channel surfing, updated guide filters, and autoplay capabilities.

SLING TV has been an innovator in the live television sphere since it launched in 2015. They have over 2 million subscribers now, using a variety of programs and genre types to encourage customers to switch over from cable TV to live streaming without the hassle of purchasing a bundle of channels. As more people become reliant on streaming services and drop their cable TV packages, SLING TV hopes they can win over new customers with their Sling Freestream service.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Shawn Laib
Shawn Laib is a freelance writer with publications such as Den of Geek, Quote.com, Edge Media Network, diaTribe, SUPERJUMP…
How To Cut the Cord and Sign Up for Sling TV
The Sling TV Logo on a black background.

Now that virtually every major media company has a streaming service, conventional cable subscriptions are starting to seem like a thing of the past. More and more people are cutting the cord and ditching the service altogether, but getting rid of cable can be a big adjustment. There are plenty of shows on services like Netflix, HBO Max, and Disney+, but none of those streamers has any live sports, at least not at their basic subscription level. Other live events are also absent from streaming services, including awards shows. What's more, if you're interested in watching a certain show as it airs, it can be difficult to do that without cable.

Thankfully, services like Sling TV exist. The service can effectively replace a cable package, allowing you to watch live TV as well as a variety of on-demand movies and TV shows for a lower price than what most cable subscriptions cost. Sling offers two packages, Sling TV Blue and Sling TV Orange. Sling has more than 50 channels on its service, and each package offers a different combination of channels based on what you're interested in. Sling TV Blue offers more channels focused on news and entertainment, while Sling TV Orange prioritizes sports channels and family-friendly content. Blue includes channels like CNN, FX, Fox News, NBC, TLC, and the NFL Network, while Orange includes ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3, ESPN+, and the Disney Channel.

Read more
Where do cigars come from? A guide to the premium tobacco growing regions
man smoking small cigar by engin-akyurt unsplash

Cigars are composed of various tobacco leaves, including fillers, a binder, and a wrapper on the outside. The tobacco that makes up those leaves is grown in a variety of regions worldwide and undergoes several processes to create the flavor and blend that is eventually rolled into a premium cigar. While many factors influence the result, mainly how the tobacco tastes when it's smoked, none are more important than its cultivation, growth, and harvest. Tobacco grown in Nicaragua will taste very different from tobacco grown in Cuba or even Indonesia. It has to do with the local climate, the soil and its contents, average sun exposure, and much more. But most cigars include a blend or mixture of tobacco leaves, sometimes from entirely different regions, like Nicaraguan fillers and an African Cameroon wrapper. So, when posing the question, "Where do cigars come from," it makes more sense to look at the regions where tobacco is grown.
The Big Five

Not all tobacco comes from the Big Five regions; however, a large majority of the tobacco leaves produced and sold, even to partners in the business, come from fairly localized tobacco growers in the following locations:
Cuba
Everyone has heard of Cuban cigars, Cuban tobacco, and the forbidden fruit, at least in the United States. Ever since the U.S. government activated an embargo against Cuban goods back in 1962, Cuban tobacco cannot be imported or sold in the country. Of course, that doesn't change the fact that Cuba is the birthplace of modern cigars and has inspired many of today's biggest tobacco producers in the world.

Read more
The best shows on Netflix to stream in May
Binge-worthy Netflix series you don't want to miss
Bojack Horseman and Princess Caroline

TV may not be peaking quite the way it was a few years back, but there are still more than enough shows out there to keep you busy. After Netflix emerged on the scene and revolutionized how we all watched TV, it was joined by a huge swath of competitors determined to take advantage of the streaming boom. All of those competitors have great stuff to watch, but Netflix is still many people's hub for all things TV. Even within the streamer, though, it can be difficult to figure out what the best shows on Netflix are.

Thankfully, that's where this list comes in. We've compiled a rundown of what to watch on Netflix, and these Netflix shows should add up to days and days of endless binging. You can also check out our list of the best Hulu series, best Amazon Prime series, best Disney Plus series, and best Netflix movies after you've made it through the series listed below.

Read more