Sling TV Discontinued Its Sling Pass Feature
The streaming provider has ended its short-term access options following legal challenges.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Television
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Sling TV has officially discontinued its Sling Pass feature, which previously allowed customers to purchase short-term access to cable programming. The service stop comes after the company faced litigation from major media conglomerates.
Why it matters
The change eliminates an alternative for users seeking flexible access to cable content without committing to a full-month subscription plan. This shift follows legal pressure exerted on the platform by content rights holders.
Sling TV historically offered day, weekend, and week-long programming passes to subscribers as an alternative to monthly billing. The platform is currently owned by Dish.
The players
Sling TV
This is a streaming service owned by Dish that provides access to live television and cable channels via the internet.
Disney
This is a global diversified entertainment and media enterprise that holds significant intellectual property and broadcast network assets.
Warner Bros. Discovery
This is a multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate that manages a wide portfolio of cable networks and streaming services.
Dish
This is the parent company of Sling TV and a major provider of satellite television and wireless services in the United States.
The details
Sling TV customers previously utilized the Sling Pass feature to purchase individual access to cable channels without the requirement of a recurring monthly subscription. This capability was terminated after Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery initiated a lawsuit against the service over the feature.
Timeline
The Sling Pass feature was launched in 2025.
Sling TV discontinued the Sling Pass feature in October 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This move highlights the ongoing legal and business tension between distribution platforms and legacy media companies over how content is monetized. The case follows the Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery lawsuit against Sling TV, reflecting a broader effort by major networks to protect traditional subscription models.
Consumers who previously utilized short-term passes to access specific events or content windows must now transition to full monthly subscription plans. This change restricts the ability of viewers to access cable channels on a pay-per-day or pay-per-week basis.
The takeaway
The elimination of Sling Pass signals a hardening of subscription requirements in the streaming marketplace. Users should evaluate their viewing habits to determine if a full monthly plan remains cost-effective compared to their previous short-term usage.
Further reading
For more on changes to digital content access, visit the Television section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Verge.
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