The return of "Scrubs", "Abbott Elementary", NBA basketball, NHL ice hockey and the "Law & Order", "9-1-1" and "Chicago" franchises are just a few of the marquee TV events playing out in October 2026 — and you can watch all of them with a subscription to Sling TV.
Sling TV is a cable alternative that ranks highly on our best live TV streaming services roundup because it's cost-efficient, highly customizable and flexible.
Scroll down to find out what you can watch on Sling TV this month, and how to tune in live from anywhere in the world.
How to watch Sling TV live in the U.S.
The Sling Orange & Blue plan gets you all of the channels above, for $65.99 per month. New customers can get 50% off their first month of Sling Orange & Blue.
Three of the best Sling TV add-ons are Desi Binge Plus and Dakshin Flex, which provide access to a Willow TV subscription from just $10/month, with no need to sign up to Blue or Orange first, and Sports Extra, which carries Tennis Channel, NBA TV, MLB Network, NHL Network and more, for $11 per month on top of a base plan.
Live sports on Sling TV
The 2026/27 NHL season (ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TBS, TNT) and the 2026/27 NBA season (ESPN, ABC, NBC, NBA TV) begin in October.
The NFL 2026/27 (NFL Network, ABC, FOX, NBC, ESPN, ESPN2), Premier League 2026/27 (NBC, USA Network), MLB 2026 (ESPN, TBS, FOX, NBC, FS1, MLB Network), NASCAR 2026 (FOX, FS1), and WNBA 2026 (ABC, ESPN, NBC, USA Network, NBA TV) campaigns, meanwhile, march on.
Further October highlights include the ATP 1,000 Shanghai Masters and WTA 1,000 Wuhan Open (both Tennis Channel), and the Baycurrent Classic FedEx Cup Fall tournament and Buick LPGA Shanghai (both Golf Channel).
What else is on Sling TV?
TV highlights for October include the returns of "Scrubs", "Abbott Elementary", the "Law & Order", "9-1-1" and "Chicago" franchises, and "Grey's Anatomy".
On ABC: "Grey's Anatomy" S23, "9-1-1: Nashville" S2, "Abbott Elementary" S6, "Celebrity Wheel of Fortune" S7 and "9-1-1" S10 are all set to premiere in October, while "RJ Decker" S2, "Scrubs" S11, "America's Funniest Home Videos" S37, "Dancing with the Stars" S35, "Shark Tank" S18, "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" S10 and "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" S24 are currently mid-series.
On NBC: "Law & Order" S26, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" S28, "Chicago Fire" S15, "Chicago P.D." S14, "Chicago Med" S12 and "Happy's Place" S3 premiere in October, while "Line of Fire" S1, "The Voice" S30, "The Traitors: New Blood", "The Wall" S6, "Saturday Night Live" S52, "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" S13 and "Late Night with Seth Meyers" S13 continue.
On FOX: October is a continuity month, with "Doc" S3, "Animal Control" S5, "Best Medicine" S2, "The Simpsons" S38, "Grimsburg" S3, "Universal Basic Guys" S3, "Hell's Kitchen" S25, "Special Forces: World's Toughest Test" S5, "Name That Tune" S6, "The Floor" S6, "Celebrity Weakest Link" S2 and "99 to Beat" S2 all currently mid-series.
On FX: "The Lowdown" will premiere in October, while "American Horror Story" S13 and "The Drop: A Snowfall Saga" are both mid-season.
How to watch Sling TV live abroad
If you've ever gone on vacation and tried to fire up Sling TV, you won't need telling that the service is locked to the U.S. and doesn't work anywhere else.
However, using the best VPN you can unblock Sling TV's lineup of TV channels and make the most out of your subscription no matter where you are.
Why should you use a VPN to watch Sling TV live?
Sling TV operates exclusively in the U.S.. Even if you're able to access the website or app from abroad, you won't be able to watch anything.
A VPN (Virtual Private Network), however, can make your devices appear as if they're back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. Ideal for sports and TV fanatics away on vacation or on business. Our favorite is NordVPN. It's the best on the market:
What is the best VPN for Sling TV?
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We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
