Warning: The Sling app does not support Dish Network
With the recent news that the latest version of the Sling app supports the Chromecast, many Dish Network customers have displayed an increased interest in the app. But what is Sling?
Sling is an app for Android and iOS devices that connects to a Slingbox. This is a TV streaming media device that is able to encode local video for transmission over the Internet to a remote device that is running the Sling app. In other words, this allows users to remotely view and control their cable, satellite, or personal video recorder (PVR) system at home from a PC, smartphone, or tablet. It’s actually really cool.
Dish Network has its own version – it offers both a Sling adapter that can connect to older satellite receivers, along with a Sling-enabled Hopper DVR system that was released earlier this year. However, Dish also has its own Sling app, which it calls Dish Anywhere. This means that Dish customers have to use the Dish app to access their Sling adapter or Sling-enabled DVR; it won’t work through the regular Sling app.
Chromecast support would have been really cool for Dish customers – this would allow users to essentially connect another TV to their existing set up for free, instead of paying for additional televisions. For this reason, it’s unlikely that Chromecast support will come to the free Dish Anywhere app anytime soon. Or if it does, customers will have to pay for the privilege to use it.
But in the meantime, don’t purchase the Sling app if you are a Dish customer. It won’t work, and you’ll be out $15.
