Adding a key platform to its mix, Sling TV, Dish Network’s OTT-TV service for cord-cutters, has launched on the apps-friendly, fourth-gen Apple TV.
The announcement, made today at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), paves the way for Sling TV to offer its mix of live TV and VOD fare, including its single-stream and beta multi-stream offerings, on Apple’s platform.
Sling TV and Apple are also connecting on a promo whereby consumers can by the 32GB version of Apple TV when they prepay for three months of Sling TV’s single-stream or multi-stream service.
Apple TV is also the debut platform for a new Sling TV user interface that features more customization and personalization. In the first phase of the rollout, Sling TV subs that access the service on Apple TV will get access to “My TV,” a new personalization feature that lets customers pick their favorite channels, resume watching where they left off on select programs and set favorite shows and movies with one click. Sling TV is also refreshing a “mini guide” that takes up less space than the previous version and lets users filter content by favorite channels and genres. Additionally, the guide’s On Now view is automatically curated based on what’s being aired by categories such as sports, lifestyle, and kids, and its Series view is designed to allow for easier binge-viewing.
Sling TV’s launch on Apple TV adds to a list of platforms and devices that already include iOS and Android smartphones and tablets, Web browsers, the Amazon Fire TV box and stick, Roku players and Roku TVs, Google Chromecast, Android TV devices, Channel Master, and the Xbox One.
Update: Also on Monday, Apple announced that it has also added Fox Sports Go to the Apple TV app lineup, an upgraded iPhone remote app for the device, voice search, and a single sign-on feature for authenticated TV Everywhere apps. Apple also introduced a “live tune-in” feature that enables users to quickly move between live streaming channels, B&C reported, noting that Apple TV now supports 1,300 video channels and about 6,000 native apps.
Its app for Apple TV was just one of several announcements made by Sling TV Monday.
The OTT-TV service also said it launched 12 Viacom channels on its beta multi-stream and single stream service, including Comedy Central, BET, Spike, MTV, and Nick Jr., among others. That comes on the heels of a new carriage deal between Dish and Viacom announced in April that included distribution on Sling TV.
Tied in, $20 per month single-stream service now includes Comedy Central as part of its core, while other Viacom networks are now available via Sling TV’s single-stream Extra packs, which cost $5 more per month.
Additional updates for add-on packages for Sling TV’ single-stream subs:
-“Kids Extra” includes Nick Jr., NickToons, TeenNick, Disney Jr., Disney XD, Boomerang, Baby TV and Duck TV.
-“Comedy Plus Extra,” a new add-on pack, debuts with MTV, Spike, MTV2, Logo, CMT, TV Land and truTV.
-“Lifestyle Plus Extra” (formerly branded as Lifestyle Extra) includes VH1, BET, Cooking Channel, DIY, FYI, WE TV and Lifetime Movie Network.
Sling TV’s beta multi-stream service, also $20 per month, now includes Comedy Central, Nick Jr. and BET. Sling TV also announced that FS2 and on-demand content from FXX and Nat Geo Wild are now available to subs on its beta multi-stream service.
Sling TV also launched three extra packs for its multi-stream customers, which cost an additional $5 per month:
-“Kids Extra – Beta”: NickToons, TeenNick, Boomerang, Baby TV and Duck TV.
- “Comedy Plus Extra – Beta”: MTV, Spike, MTV2, Logo, CMT and TV Land.
-“Lifestyle Plus Extra – Beta”: VH1, Cooking Channel, DIY, FYI, WE TV and Lifetime Movie Network.
