Sling TV is a streaming service that enables customers to watch live entertainment, lifestyle, news, and sports channels. The service is available to watch on streaming media players like Roku, which plug into users’ TV sets via an HDMI connection.
Sling TV provides 3 plans for customers to choose from. The 2 basic plans, Sling TV Blue and Sling TV Orange, offer a different selection of channels. Both cost $30/mo. Sling TV Blue & Orange combines all of the channels available in the 2 basic plans for $45/mo. Popular channels on Sling TV include A&E, Bravo, Cartoon Network, CNN, Discovery, ESPN, FOX News, FOX Sports, History, NBC Sports Network, NFL Network, TBS, and TNT. SlingTV customers can also choose from a wide range of extra channel options and add premium channels, such as EPIX, NBA League Pass and NBA Team Pass, NHL Network, Showtime, and STARZ to their accounts.
Roku is a manufacturer of streaming media players that enable users to watch movies, TV shows, and thousands of channels and streaming services on their TV. All current and new Roku devices are compatible with Sling TV, which includes Roku Express and Express+, Roku Premiere and Premiere+, Roku Streaming Stick+, Roku Smart Soundbar, Roku TV, Roku Ultra, and Roku Ultra LT.
This article will provide an overview of how to get Sling on Roku and how to start streaming the service on Roku devices.
How to get Sling TV on Roku
To get Sling on Roku, users need to have signed up for a Sling TV account and purchased a Roku device. The Roku device also needs to be registered to the user, set up and updated with the latest software and operating system version, connected to the Internet, and plugged into the user’s TV.
Follow this process to sign up for Sling TV and add the service to a Roku device:
- The first step to getting Sling TV on Roku is to sign up for a Sling TV account. To do this, head to the Sling homepage on a web browser and select the Watch 3 days free button or the various Get this deal buttons positioned throughout the page. Sign up for an account by entering an email address, create a password, then select Register. Choose between the Sling TV Blue, Orange, or Blue & Orange plans, tick any extras or premium channels required, and select Continue. Complete the sign-up process by entering billing details, which can be a credit card or PayPal, and select Finish & Submit.
- Press the Home button on the Roku remote control to power on both the Roku device and the TV.
- The Roku device will open on its home page, so use the remote control to navigate to the Search tab and type in “Sling TV.” Select the app by pressing the OK button on the remote control, then do the same on Add Channel. Sling TV will download automatically. Alternatively, open the Streaming Channels option from the Roku home page, open Movies & TV, find and select Sling TV, and select Add Channel.
- When the download completes, the Sling TV app will appear on the Roku home screen. Use the Roku remote control’s OK button to open the Sling TV app.
- Sign in to Sling TV on the app by using the Roku remote control to enter the login credentials created in Step 1. The user will be logged in to Sling TV and can start streaming the service on their Roku device.
Can you watch Sling TV on older Roku models?
Sling TV works well with all new Roku devices. However, the service isn’t compatible with older, legacy devices that Roku has ended support for and can’t be updated with the latest versions of Roku’s operating system. These older Roku models include:
- Roku 1 and Roku SE (2710X)
- Roku 2 (2720X)
- Roku 2 HD (3000X)
- Roku 2 XD (3050X)
- Roku 2 XS (3100X)
- Roku DVP (N1000)
- Roku HD (N1100)
- Roku HD-XR (N1101)
- Roku HD (2000C and 2500X)
- Roku LT (2400X, 2450X, and 2700X)
- Roku SD (N1050)
- Roku Streaming Stick (3400X and 3420X)
- Roku XD (2050X, 2050N, 2100N, and 2100X)
Other Roku models are no longer being manufactured by the company but can be updated to support the latest operating system and remain compatible with Sling TV. These include:
- Roku 2 (4210X)
- Roku 3 (4200X and 4230X)
- Roku 4 (4400X)
- Roku Express (3700X and 3900X)
- Roku Express+ (3710X and 3910X)
- Roku Premiere (4620X)
- Roku Premiere+ (4630X)
- Roku Streaming Stick (3500X, 3600X, and 3800X)
- Roku Streaming Stick (3500X)
- Roku TV (5000X)
- Roku TV 4K (7000X)
- Roku Ultra (4640X and 4660X)
- Roku Ultra (4660X)
Users can find the model number of their Roku device by opening its Settings menu, selecting System, and opening the About page.
Sling TV supported devices
In addition to Roku, Sling TV customers can also watch the service on any other device it’s compatible with.
- Amazon Fire TV streaming media players
- Android mobile phones and tablets
- Android TV
- Apple iOS mobile phones and tablets
- Apple TV streaming media players
- Google Chromecast casting devices
- LG, Samsung, and VIZIO smart TVs
- Oculus headsets
- Portal TV from Facebook
- Roku streaming media players
- Sling AirTV Mini streaming media player
- Web browsers for laptops and PCs
- Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X gaming consoles
How to download Sling TV content on Roku
Roku users can’t download content from Sling TV, or any other streaming service, onto their devices. Sling TV does provide a cloud digital video recorder (DVR) feature, which allows users up to 10 hours of storage space. That can be upgraded to 50 hours for an additional $5/mo.
Live streaming services like Sling TV don’t enable users to download content onto mobile devices. However, services like CBS All Access, Hulu, and STARZ do allow users to download content to watch offline.
The final cut
Sling TV provides a range of live TV channels that users can stream on their TV through their Roku device. Sling TV’s channel lineup is available through 2 basic plans, Sling TV Blue and Sling TV Orange (both $30/mo.), or users can combine both in the Sling TV Blue & Orange plan for $45/mo. All Sling TV accounts currently come with a 3-day free trial for new customers to try the service before they continue with a paid-for account.