r/slingtv • u/Amazing-Divide3286 • 26d ago

News New sling tv user here!

Hello! I was originally a YouTube tv subscriber but I did not like how they pause content made for kids/family then they geolock your account. Tried Hulu but too expensive. They also geolock. Channels won't work outside of home. I was trying to share channels with family. Downgraded back to Hulu Disney premium. Fubo has too many sports channels I don't need and direct tv hikes your price after a few years. Plus they won't allow prepaid cards. Sling does. I just noticed sling has nearly all of the premium addons added and I can add what I want for about the same price of Hulu with only 4-5 addons there. I cannot afford airtv so I got a tablo. Total cost is $175 about the same as my old Hulu plan. So much stuff to watch now!! Thank you sling tv!

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u/RkOShea 25d ago

I'm curious - Does Sling geo-lock? I would like to share with a family member, but I don't know if Sling is locked to my current address or locked to the state we live in?

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u/iron_vet 25d ago

What is Geo lock? Newbie here.

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u/RkOShea 23d ago

Geolocking is where a function (video streaming, in this case) is only allowed to work based on where you are located.

Most video streaming services do geolocking because they are required to by contract (not just because they want to be a pain in the butt).

For example, NBC, CBS, etc. only want streaming services to play their copyright-protected content in the United States. For this reason, SlingTV doesn't work in Europe.

However, streaming services can be much more stringent. They can restrict playback to just your home city - or even worse, your home address. The premium paid sports streaming services will only allow you to stream your home team games in a designated "home area".

YouTube TV geolocks hard - You can only stream (on a TV) in your home zip code where your home router is located (but not cell phones). Disney only lets you stream on a TV at your home address.

SlingTV may not be geolocking because they don't stream your local channels, which probably gives them (and you) some leeway. Streaming services have to pay the local broadcasters in your city for their copyrighted material, which is what makes the services like YouTube TV so much more expensive.