Sling Media Inc. specializes in audio and video placeshifting technology. The company is a subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (purchased in the fall of 2007) and is based in Foster City, California. Their flagship product, the Slingbox, debuted on the US market on July 1, 2005.

 

History

Founded in 2004, Sling Media, Inc. is the leading provider of video placeshifting products and services for consumers and television service providers. Brothers Blake and Jason Krikorian, from San Francisco and devoted San Francisco Giants fans, envisioned the concept of the Slingbox during the 2002 Major League Baseball season. Traveling far from home, they faced missing the best games of the season, and sought a solution. The Slingbox was born.

 

On September 24, 2007, EchoStar announced an agreement to acquire Sling Media for approximately $380 million USD.

 

Criticism and controversy

Early in its history, the Slingbox caused widespread speculation of its possible legal implications. High on the list of issues cited by critics, was the ability to provide a loophole around proximity control, potentially allowing people outside the approved viewing area for events, especially sports, in which distribution traditionally has been restricted by time and region. However, the practice of placeshifting is not unlike that of timeshifting, which has been upheld in courts across the world due to the personal nature of a timeshifted rebroadcast, which is deemed "non-infringing fair use". Furthermore, Sling Media's secure technology limits access to a single authorized user, which prevents unauthorized or multi-user access thereby maintaining the personal nature of the placeshifted content. The early concerns regarding this technology have not impacted Sling Media's business and product line, and the Slingbox technology has now evolved into a family of retail and OEM products used by millions of consumers worldwide.

 

Products

The original Slingbox, now referred to as the Slingbox Classic, connects to any standard audio and/or video signal, and streams the video and audio to a computer over a high-speed broadband internet connection. Then the flagship of the Sling Media line of products, it was released July 1, 2005, garnering significant media attention. The so-called "foil-wrapped chocolate bar" appearance made a statement, but many felt the design made the Slingbox stand out, and not in a good way.
 

Improvement came with the introduction of the second-generation line of Sling Media products, the AV, Tuner, and Pro. While the Slingbox AV became a simplified unit with s-video and composite inputs only, the Slingbox Tuner provided service for the other end of the spectrum, with only a single coaxial input for use by basic cable and antenna-only applications. The Slingbox Pro introduced a four input design, combining the capabilities of the AV and Tuner units while also allowing for the connection of high definition sources with the use of an accessory cable adding component and digital audio inputs. Along with a line of accessories, including the SlingLink power line network interface and additional software for mobile devices, Sling Media's products became more diverse in order to appeal to consumers in the electronics market.

 

Advertising

• Television Ads: "Sharkbait", "Gorman", "Kruk and Kuip"[San Francisco Giants Broadcasters]

• Radio Ads: featured by Howard Stern, WEEI-AM 850 Boston, Jim Rome, Rod Brooks, and KKFN-AM 950 Denver.

• Print Ads: "80 lb. Basketball", "Condolences", "Gospel", "Sling Family", "Pay Per View Porn", "49ers"