In 2021, Sling launched its Watch Party feature to connect friends, family, and other Sling customers from remote locations. The feature was a first-of-its-kind for live television at the time. However, streaming services like Amazon Prime and Hulu now offer watch party capabilities as well. But how does a Sling Watch Party work?
Watch parties offer a unique viewing experience that allows Sling customers to create parties of up to four people (including the host) to enjoy streaming content together virtually. Sling customers can host and join unlimited parties and friends and family can join up to three parties a month whether they are Sling customers or not.
To create a Watch Party, simply log in to your Sling account via iPhone, Chrome, or Safari browser and locate the content you’d like to stream. Then select the Watch Party icon (party icon with three people on the right and adjacent to the i [information] icon). Sling will request your permission to share both your microphone and camera. Once you’ve granted permission, Sling will populate a Watch Party link which you can copy and paste anywhere or email from the app. Choose how you’d like to share and press Next. A preview screen will pop-up. When you’re ready, press Start Watching.
Creating a Watch Party is a breeze and the Sling Watch Party in particular is a unique experience compared to other party features offered by Amazon Prime TV and Hulu. For example, Sling Watch Party gives viewers the option to turn on their camera so others in the party can see their faces throughout the show – which makes the party particularly fun during a horror flick. Party members can also give themselves nicknames in the chat room. The experience is similar to an online presentation where the host shares her screen during a presentation.
The camera feature is unique to the Sling Watch Party experience, but given how much fun it is, we expect other streaming service to begin incorporating it in the future. The added benefit of interacting with someone face-to-face while watching your favorite programs is a really nice touch, though you may be thousands of miles away, the experience makes you feel as if you’re sitting on the same couch.
Once the party has started you’ll find yourself in a viewing room, where the host retains control to the video quality and stop, pause, play functions, chat room, and other party controls like mute everyone. The host has full control of the party and the ability to add new party members as needed.
For the best viewing experience, Sling recommends wearing headphones when in a Watch Party, as audio from the programming being viewed as well as your friends chatting can be confusing.
If you’re not a Sling customer you’ll be prompted to create an account to join the party, though no sign-up for services is required.
Sling Watch Party features
- While watching a show, video or text chat to communicate with other Sling Watch Party attendees in real-time by pressing the Bubble icon on the lower left side of your screen.
- Party members maintain control over their camera, the volume of their content feed, and the volume of video chat feeds transmitted by other people.
- Enjoy live or on-demand content offered by Sling Orange, Sling Blue, Sling Latino, Sling International services, or any Sling TV Extra.
Hosting a Sling Watch Party
- Open the Sling website in Chrome, Safari, or on your iPhone.
- Log in to your Sling account.
- Select the content you’d like to watch. Look for the Create Watch Party button.
- Select the Create Watch Party icon and send the link invitation to your friends and family.
- You may email the link directly from Sling TV or copy it and send it to your contacts.
- Click Next.
- Select Start Watching.
- Once everyone has joined click Play to start the party.
Remember that every Watch Party session is limited to four people. Closed captioning is also available for Watch Party content.
Final words
With Sling Watch Party, you can easily create a living room setting with friends anywhere in the world. The concept may be new for some, but once you’re acclimated to using the Watch Party feature, you’ll enjoy the camaraderie it offers and recapture the joy of streaming content with friends and family.