Sling Media

Infobox_Company | company_name = Sling Media Inc.
company_
company_type = Private
foundation = 2005
location_city = San Mateo, California
location_country = USA
key_people = Blake Krikorian, CEO, Founder
Jason Krikorian, VP, Co-Founder
Bhupen Shah, CTO, Co-Founder
num_employees = 30 to 40
industry = Placeshifting, Computer hardware
products = Slingbox
homepage = [http://www.slingmedia.com www.slingmedia.com] |

Sling Media Inc. specializes in audio and video placeshifting technology. The company is a subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (purchased in the fall of 2007 [http://www.slingmedia.com/get/pr-slingmodem-cable.html] ) and is based in San Mateo, California. Their flagship product, the Slingbox, debuted on the US market on July 1, 2005.

History

Blake and Jason Krikorian, brothers 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 [ [http://www.slingmedia.com/get/pr-echostar-slingmedia.html Announcement of acquisition by EchoStar on Sling Media website] ] .

Growth

Beginning with the colossal refrigerator-like prototype placeshifter for baseball games, the Slingbox soon evolved into the sleek form we see today, designed by Yves Behar, capable of 'slinging' any video source.

Criticism and controversy

Early in its history, Slingbox caused widespread speculation of its possible legal implications. High on the list of issues cited by critics, is 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. These concerns have yet to impact Sling Media, however, as the Slingbox has evolved into a family of products designed for compatibility with specific video connections and consumer needs.

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 an attempt to appeal to the menagerie of 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"

ee also

*Slingbox

References

*Sling Media website. [http://us.slingmedia.com/page/background.html Convergence Emergence: The Sling Story] ." 2005.
*Wallenstein, Andrew. [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000973572 Slingbox could spark new lawsuits] . Place-shifting Slingbox at edge of new legal frontier, July 6, 2005.
*Block, Ryan. [http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/18/the-engadget-interview-blake-krikorian-ceo-of-sling-media/ The Engadget Interview: Blake Krikorian, CEO of Sling Media] . Veteran journalist J.D. Lasica (speaks) with Sling Media CEO Blake Krikorian about the rollout of the Slingbox. July 18, 2005.
*Brown, Michael. [http://maximumpc.com/2005/12/sling_media_sli.html Sling Media Slingbox] . Maximum PC review. December, 2005.

External links

* [http://www.slingmedia.com/ Official Homepage]
* [http://www.slingcommunity.com/ Official Forums]