The Sling TV web site has revealed a new set top box – the Air TV – that’s bringing a few features never seen on a streaming box.
The new device will let people who subscribe to Sling TV stream their live cable channels on their television (just like the current Sling box), along with Netflix and other streaming services, but it even incorporates over the air network channels in the same dashboard, provided there’s a compatible antenna attached.
There will be no monthly subscription fee for AirTV, and it actually doesn’t even require a Sling subscription. It appears that this is an Android device, with a totally new design. While most new streaming devices these days are all black, the AirTV is a shiny white and blue.
The dashboard features Netflix prominently, with a button on the remote dedicated to the streaming service, plus a button just for Google, indicating that there could be web browsing involved.
Sling touts this device as “a single platform for watching Sling TV, Netflix, local channels, and more. Plus, one easy-to-use remote with voice support for your AirTV Player, local OTA channels, and sound system.”
Out of all the streaming boxes that have hit the market, it’s looking like Sling’s AirTV could be the closest to a “real” TV watching experience we’ve seen yet.
