Summary
- Sling TV debuts $5 Day Pass for single-day access to select cable channels, aimed at sports fans.
- Disney sued Sling, saying the low-cost passes violate its licensing, likely over ESPN content.
- Case could reshape streaming and threaten Disney’s $30/month ESPN strategy; court date not set.
Earlier this month, Sling TV introduced a new single-day streaming subscription that gives users access to a select number of cable channels for a single day for $5. Known as the Day Pass, this streaming option appealed specifically to sports fans, as getting this 24 hour streaming service only on game days is far cheaper than monthly services like YouTube TV. Our own Eli Becht tried the service out and was so impressed he called it the future of TV. However, it looks like one company wants to put the brakes on said future.
According to Deadline, Disney has filed a lawsuit against Sling TV, saying that the company’s low cost plans violate their licensing agreement.“Sling TV’s new offerings, which they made available without our knowledge or consent, violate the terms of our existing license agreement,” a Disney spokesperson said to Deadline. “We have asked the court to require Dish to comply with our deal when it distributes our programming.”
A Sling spokesperson also made a statement to Deadline saying the company was “proud” of launching its new passes, which were “designed to redefine streaming and give viewers more flexibility, more choice and more control over how they watch live TV.” The spokesperson went on to say that the suit was “meritless” and that Sling would “vigorously defend our right to bring customers a viewing experience that fits their lives, on their schedule and on their terms.”
The ESPN problem
Disney is likely worried about their just-launched $30 sports-focused streaming service
Though unsaid, Disney’s main issue with these $5 daily streaming subscriptions is likely the availability of ESPN, which launched a new streaming service earlier this month that offers all of ESPN’s lineup of linear live TV channels, such as ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNews for $30 per month. This sports-focused service is also available in bundle format with Fox One, which gives subscribers access to its own sports linear TV channels, such as Fox News, Fox Sports, FS1, and FS2 for just $10 more.
If you’re only a casual sports fan, Disney is also offering Disney+ and Hulu free for a year for those who just try out ESPN’s new streaming service.
It’s clear that Disney is trying to ensure their new venture is as successful as possible and it’s easy to see how a $5 daily streaming option could obstruct that. No court date has been set, but it will be interesting to see who prevails in this case, which could change the landscape of streaming for years to come.
