- Net adds: Sling TV gained ~159,000 subscribers in Q3 2025; EchoStar’s Pay‑TV unit ended the quarter with ~7.17 million combined DISH + Sling customers. [1]
- Size of Sling base: Sling finished Q3 at ~1.995 million subs, ~11% higher than Q2 on a sequential basis (helped by football season and new flexible offers). [2]
- Counting change to know about: EchoStar’s Q3 filings indicate a methodology tweak that lifted period‑end Sling subs by ~51,000 by incorporating revenue from “Flexible Offerings” (e.g., Day/Weekend/Week Passes, Freestream, and other non‑recurring accounts). Net adds (159K) are separate. [3]
- Product levers: Sling’s $4.99 Day Pass, $9.99 Weekend Pass, $14.99 Week Pass and the $19.99 “Select” tier rolled out this summer and were cited alongside Q3 gains. [4]
- Company results & strategy: EchoStar reported $3.61B in Q3 revenue and a non‑cash impairment of $16.48B tied to decommissioning portions of its 5G network after spectrum deals; Charlie Ergen returned as CEO as Hamid Akhavan moved to lead EchoStar Capital. [5]
Why Sling is growing again
Sling TV put points on the board in Q3 2025, logging approximately 159,000 net subscriber additions—a turnaround after earlier‑year declines. EchoStar’s Pay‑TV unit (DISH + Sling) closed the quarter with ~7.17 million customers, while the company flagged DISH TV churn at 1.33% (a Q3 low). [6]
On a standalone basis, Sling ended Q3 at ~1.995 million subscribers, up about 11% from Q2—momentum that coincided with the start of NFL and NBA seasons and the debut of short‑term passes meant to capture event‑driven viewing. [7]
A quick note on the numbers (and why they’re a bit confusing)
Beginning in August, EchoStar adjusted how it counts Sling subscribers: certain “Flexible Offerings” revenue (including Day/Weekend/Week Passes, Freestream, and other non‑recurring video accounts) is now converted into a period‑end subscriber figure by dividing that revenue by the lowest tier’s price. EchoStar’s investor materials state this added ~51,000 to Sling’s period‑end Q3 count. The 159,000 figure still reflects net adds from paying subscriptions. In short: both can be true at once. [8]
The product moves behind the rebound
Sling’s second‑half product refresh is built around flexibility and price discrimination:
- Passes by Sling:Day Pass ($4.99), Weekend Pass ($9.99), Week Pass ($14.99) — instant, contract‑free access to live channels (ESPN, TNT, Disney Channel, etc.), designed for game days and special events without a monthly bill. [9]
- Sling Select ($19.99/mo): a lower‑priced base tier with a curated lineup (e.g., Fox News, NFL Network, FX, FS1, MeTV). In select markets, ABC/NBC/FOX locals carry a small surcharge. [10]
- Core plans: Sling’s monthly “Orange” and “Blue” remain the full‑time options, while Passes target occasional or sports‑centric viewers who might otherwise skip a subscription altogether. [11]
This “have‑it‑when‑you‑need‑it” approach appears to have expanded the top of Sling’s funnel (short‑term access) while maintaining upsell paths to monthly bundles—one reason the service out‑performed its first‑half trajectory. [12]
The EchoStar bigger picture: earnings, impairment, leadership, and spectrum
At the corporate level, EchoStar (NASDAQ: SATS) posted Q3 revenue of $3.61 billion across Pay‑TV ($2.34B), Wireless/Boost Mobile ($0.94B) and Broadband & Satellite Services ($0.35B). The quarter included a $16.48B non‑cash impairment tied to the abandonment/decommissioning of portions of its 5G network after it pivoted around major spectrum deals with AT&T and SpaceX. [13]
EchoStar also expanded its SpaceX partnership, agreeing to sell unpaired AWS‑3 spectrum for ~$2.6B in SpaceX stock—an amendment to September’s earlier transaction—and announced a leadership shift: Charlie Ergen returned as CEO, with Hamid Akhavan moving to lead the new EchoStar Capital investment arm. [14]
Q3 2025: Sling by the numbers
- Sling TV net adds: ~159,000 (Q3) [15]
- Sling TV ending subs: ~1.995 million (period‑end; includes ~51K from Flexible Offerings counting method) [16]
- Pay‑TV combined subs (DISH + Sling): ~7.17 million (period‑end) [17]
- DISH TV churn:1.33% (Q3 low) [18]
- Wireless (Boost Mobile) net adds:+223,000; revenue ~$939M [19]
- EchoStar revenue:$3.61B; non‑cash impairment:$16.48B [20]
What this means for cord‑cutters and the vMVPD market
- Pay when it matters: The new Passes are resonating with sports and event‑driven viewers who want official access without a month‑long commitment. That’s pulling in audiences who might otherwise rely on bars, friends’ logins, or highlights. [21]
- Cheaper on‑ramp:Sling Select at $19.99 positions Sling as a cost‑leadership option amid industry‑wide price hikes, with locals available via surcharge or antenna, while “Orange/Blue” remain the fuller bundles. [22]
- Mind the metrics: For apples‑to‑apples comparisons with rivals, note Sling’s Flexible Offerings accounting. The ~51K methodological lift affects period‑end counts, not net adds—use both stats to judge momentum. [23]
Source notes & methodology
This report synthesizes EchoStar’s official Q3 press release and segment tables with independent trade coverage and Sling newsroom materials for product details. Where relevant, we flag accounting methodology changes that impact headline subscriber counts.
- EchoStar Q3 results, impairment, leadership moves, and segment metrics. [24]
- Sling’s Q3 Sling‑only base (~1.995M) and sequential growth framing. [25]
- Flexible Offerings methodology and ~51K period‑end lift. [26]
- Product changes: Day/Weekend/Week Passes and Sling Select. [27]
- Additional context on Sling’s Q3 net adds. [28]
References
1. www.prnewswire.com, 2. thedesk.net, 3. ir.echostar.com, 4. www.prnewswire.com, 5. www.prnewswire.com, 6. www.prnewswire.com, 7. thedesk.net, 8. ir.echostar.com, 9. www.prnewswire.com, 10. news.sling.com, 11. www.sling.com, 12. www.prnewswire.com, 13. www.prnewswire.com, 14. www.prnewswire.com, 15. www.prnewswire.com, 16. thedesk.net, 17. www.prnewswire.com, 18. www.prnewswire.com, 19. www.prnewswire.com, 20. www.prnewswire.com, 21. www.prnewswire.com, 22. news.sling.com, 23. ir.echostar.com, 24. www.prnewswire.com, 25. thedesk.net, 26. ir.echostar.com, 27. www.prnewswire.com, 28. cordcuttersnews.com
