Sling announces $20 package anchored by ESPN, ESPN 2

Sling TV has announced it will offer a lower-cost package centered around Disney-owned networks, including ESPN brands.

Known as “Sling Essentials,” the service gives subscribers access to both ESPN and ESPN 2 for $19.99 per month.

Also included are Disney Channel and Freeform (owned by Disney), along with a handful of other offerings. This includes Game Show Network (Sony), MeTV and Heroes & Icons (Weigel Broadcasting). Lifetime Movies (Disney-Hearst Communications joint venture), Hallmark Mystery (Hallmark Media).

Bounce TV and Grit (E.W. Scripps), along with Start TV (Disney and Weigel), round out the package.

Sling is framing the offering as a way for sports fans to get affordable access to two premier sports networks alongside an assortment of other entertainment. 

While Sling Essentials includes a handful of popular networks, it’s rounded out with some less-popular offerings more commonly found on digital subchannels. It’s likely these networks have significantly lower costs for Sling.

Traditionally, ESPN and its related networks have been able to command some of the highest per-subscriber carriage fees in the industry. The high costs of these networks are commonly cited as one of the main reasons cable became so expensive, though the costs of other networks also add up quickly.

Terms of Sling’s agreement with the networks were not disclosed. 

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In many cases, cable networks earn significant revenue from carriage fees they collect from MVPDs, who typically have to pay a negotiated per-subscriber rate whether or not a particular subscriber ever watches the channel or not.