• by Karlene Lukovitz  @KLmarketdaily, February 10, 2023

Sling TV has launched a free, ad-supported streaming service dubbed Sling Freestream. 

In addition to the content and a “seamless” user experience, the company is touting Freestream as a “premium advertising experience” built on the same ad tech that powers Sling TV.

“Freestream is another opportunity for us to lead, innovate and deliver a greater impact for our advertisers,” stated Sling TV Group President Gary Schanman.

The FAST, which is separate from the pay-TV service of the virtual multichannel video programming distributor (vMVPD), currently offers more than 210 channels and 41,000 on-demand TV shows such as “Heartland” and “Forensic Files” and movie titles. 

The content spans news, sports, sitcoms, game shows, cooking and other lifestyle areas, and includes channels such as CBS News, ABC News Live and Fail Army. It also includes international programming in seven languages. 

Sling says it will expand the content over the next few months, and add functions such as universal search, enhanced channel surfing, updated guide filters, and autoplay capabilities.

Sling already offers a free tier with FAST channels, but accessing it requires being a paid Sling subscriber. Sling Freestream allows for personalization such as user profiles without having to pay or create a Sling TV account.

Sling Freestream also allows users to subscribe to more than 50 paid standalone streaming services, including AMC+, Discovery+, MGM+ and Showtime, or add a paid Sling Orange or Blue base service — a combination designed to meet consumers’ desire for consolidated access to entertainment options, and even facilitate the growing practice of "cycling," or turning paid streaming services on and off based on specific series or movies. 

“We know some people want free content, some may want a year-round paid subscription, while others may want to subscribe for certain events or shows,” says Schanman, so the FAST combines the draw of free, popular content with the option “to easily flex in and out of premium pay TV, creating a one-of-a-kind entertainment experience.”