Throughout the summer of 2015, people began to see product pages for a device called the AirTV on various retail websites such as Amazon. We then started to see Dish apply for trademarks on the AirTV name and this showed it was a collaboration between EchoStar’s subsidiary Sling Media and Dish’s Sling TV. Toward the end of December, a landing page on the Sling TV website went live that revealed the new set-top box the company was working on.
Just as we had come to expect, the product is called the AirTV, and it’s being heavily promoted by Sling TV. The set-top box is based on Android TV (capable of 4K streaming), and integrates services like Netflix, Sling TV and YouTube into a single experience. A feature that sets the AirTV apart from other Android TV devices though, is its Over the Air (OTA) adapter that allows you watch free channels directly on the set-top box. It has been reported that more people are taking advantage of free OTA channels for sports and other local channels such as ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC. This has become even more important as people are cutting the cord to their cable TV service because previously it has not been easy to watch sports games online. Neilsen says close to 14 million households in the United States are currently watching free OTA TV. This number has even grown by 24% compared to the year before so it’s clear to see that there is a growing demand for it.
So not only are Netflix, Sling TV and YouTube pre-installed on the AirTV box, but it also has the Google Play Store for all your app needs. The base model costs $100 and comes with a Bluetooth voice remote with its base $100 offering, but you’ll have to pay an additional $30 if you want the OTA adapter with it. Naturally, subscription plans to Sling TV and Netflix are required if you want to enjoy those services as well.
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