Sling TVis an internet streaming service that offers an alternative to traditional cable or satellite TV. It has much cheaper monthly subscription packages than most pay television services on the market and a flexible membership arrangement.

With the budget-friendly pricing, you do get a more stripped-back service. But it's best to look at Sling subscriptions as a base to build rather than comprehensive TV packages. Fair-priced extras and add-ons can then be purchased on top to personalize your viewing experience. There are also plenty of inexpensive OTT streaming services that you can sign up for alongside Sling to fill in any glaring gaps in your channel lineup.

GOALbreaks down Sling TV's Orange and Blue plans, including their differences, similarities, and sports divide below.

Sling Orange and Sling Blue are the two standard subscription package options on offer with Sling TV, with each offering largely similar features but also some channel differences.

A combined subscription is available toSling Orange & Blue ($65.99/month), saving $31 if each was purchased separately. The combined subscription contains all the channels available across the individual packages, plus all the ones each other doesn't, so a fairly complete all-round subscription.

✓ No contract tying you in long-term

✓ On the more affordable side compared to other providers

✓ Huge range of channels to choose from

✓ Major sports channels like ESPN are available

In terms of DVR storage, nothing at all. Both include 50 hours of Cloud DVR storage with a standard subscription and an optional add-on for Unlimited. Subscription pricing is tight, too, starting from$45.99 per month.

27 shared channels are featured in both packages. With the package exclusive channels, we start to see a few key differences, as Orange haseight compared to Blue's 19.

Package

Monthly price

Simultaneous streams

Cloud DVR

Unlimited DVR

Channels

Exclusive channels

Sling Orange

$45.99

One

50 hours

$5

35

ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPN 4K, Disney Channel, FreeFrom, MotorTrend, and QVC

Sling Blue

$50.99

Three

50 hours

$5

46

ABC (local), FOX (local), NBC (local), Bravo, Cartoon Network, Discovery, E!,FOX 4K, FOX Sports 1, FX, Fox News, Fox Sports 1 4K, HLN, MSNBC,NFL Network, Nat Geo, SYFY, TLC, USA, truTV

A&E

CHARGE!

HGTV

MGM+ Drive-In

AMC

CNN

History Channel

Nick Jr.

AXS TV

Comedy Central

IFC

Sling scapes

BBC America

Comet

Investigation Discovery

Sling scapes 2

BET

Food Network

Lifetime

TBS

Bloomberg Television

Fuse

Local Now

TNT

YTravel Channel

Vice

This is where it gets interesting. Supposedly, Sling Orange is Sling's sports package. ESPN, ESPN 2, and ESPN3 are exclusive to Orange's lineup, as is ESPN 4K. So at first glance that makes sense. However, Sling has thrown us a curve ball by having channels like NBC, FS1, FX, USA, and the NFL Network exclusive to the Sling Blue subscription.

NBC and FOX channels are essential sports networks for live events throughout the year, including the Olympics, professional tennis, professional golf, NFL, English Premier League, MLB, NASCAR, AEW, WWE, NBA, and the NHL.Not only is it odd for Sling to siphon them off into a separate package, but it's also inconvenient and leaves plenty of people opting for the Sling Orange + Blue combo package.

While the channel divide isn't ideal for customers, from a marketing perspective, it makes a lot of sense. Having the channels divided this way means a jointSling Orange & Blue subscription ($65.99 per month)is the best value sports coverage for your money.

It's hard to get too mad at this though. Even Sling's joint subscription is relatively budget-friendly compared to many of its competitors. The subscription packages with YouTube TV, fubo, and DIRECTV all range between $74.99 and $154.99, so you're still in a much lower price bracket.

Sling consistently offers discounted prices and deals for new customers, which is a nice perk. Current deals include:

New Sling TV customers can enjoy50% off their first monthof Sling Orange, Blue, or Orange & Blue for a limited time, meaning you can get Orange for$23, Blue for$25.50, or Orange & Blue for$33.

Ultimately, the best value subscription for your money is the joint Sling Orange & Blue package. You get every channel in each subscription and the combined number of simultaneous streams.However, when it comes down to picking Orange or Blue,Blue is the clear winner on paper. You get more simultaneous streams and exclusive channels for your money, including local channels if available in your area.

The big hole in Blue's lineup, though, is the absence of ESPN; there's no way around that. But if we're going to be extra thrifty, anESPN+ subscriptionis only$11.99 per month. A Sling Blue subscription with ESPN+ comes to only $63.98, that's a bit less than a combinedSling Orange & Blue subscription.