Verizon hooks up with Sling TV

In another example of Verizon distancing itself from its own Fios TV product, the mobile and broadband service provider is offering up to three free months of Sling TV to wireless, Fios or 5G Home customers.

Jeff Baumgartner, Senior Editor

May 19, 2021

2 Min Read
Light Reading logo in a gray background | Light Reading

Verizon's OTT video partnership play expanded today with word that the mobile and broadband service provider is offering up to three months of Sling TV, depending on the package, to new and existing wireless, Fios and 5G Home customers.

Under the promo, those customers can pick from three options: two free months of the Sling Blue or Sling Orange packages (regularly $35 per month); two free months of Sling International (there are 14 eligible services, costing up to $35 per month); or three free months of Sling Latino (up to $15 per month).

Per the fine print, Verizon's "Sling TV on us" offer is valid through February 19, 2022.

The marketing co-op is another prime example of Verizon's strategy to focus on connectivity and to distance itself from, or at least de-emphasize, its own Fios TV product. Verizon, which lost another 82,000 Fios TV subs in Q1 2021, has already been steering customers of its broadband-led "Mix & Match" packages to a pay-TV option featuring YouTube TV, the Google-owned OTT-TV service.

Verizon has also been sweetening some of its service offerings by bundling in subscription VoD streaming services. Following an earlier promo with Disney+, Verizon is now offering up to 12 free months of Discovery+ with eligible mobile plans.

"This partnership enables our customers to watch live television when, where and how they want," Erin McPherson, head of consumer content and partnerships at Verizon, said in a statement. "We are excited to provide even more value and choice as we welcome Sling TV to our ecosystem of incredible partners and services."

For Sling TV, the promo will expose the service to Verizon's base at a time when the OTT-TV service is seeking ways to restore subscriber growth. Sling TV lost 100,000 subscribers in Q1 2021, ending the period with 2.37 million.

Although the Verizon promotion should bring in a batch of new Sling TV customers, the challenge for the streaming service will be holding on to them once the free period ends.

Related posts:

— Jeff Baumgartner, Senior Editor, Light Reading

About the Author

Jeff Baumgartner

Senior Editor, Light Reading

Jeff Baumgartner is a Senior Editor for Light Reading and is responsible for the day-to-day news coverage and analysis of the cable and video sectors. Follow him on X and LinkedIn.

Baumgartner also served as Site Editor for Light Reading Cable from 2007-2013. In between his two stints at Light Reading, he led tech coverage for Multichannel News and was a regular contributor to Broadcasting + Cable. Baumgartner was named to the 2018 class of the Cable TV Pioneers.

Subscribe and receive the latest news from the industry.
Join 62,000+ members. Yes it's completely free.

You May Also Like