EchoStar -- parent Co of Dish Network -- just announced intent to purchase Sling Media for a cool $380 mil. Not a total surprise given the similarities of those logos. More telling, perhaps, is the fact that EchoStar was an early investor in the people responsible for the Slingbox and SlingPlayer software. The acquisition, expected to be approved before the year is up, gives EchoStar access to more displays and more locations thanks to Sling's streaming solutions in and outside of the home. And Blake Krikorian, co-founder, chairman and boss of Sling Media, reaction to the prospects of the new union? "We are psyched to make this announcement" as it "paves the way for the development of a host of new innovative products and services for our subscribers, new digital media consumers and strategic partners." Yeah bro, totally... like the
SlingCatcher, eh dude?
posted Sep 25th 2007 2:02AM
I can't wait to see where this goes...
Sling integration on PocketDish (Archos) devices to run for DishNetwork over Wifi?
Total drag. An acquisition by a content provider can mean nothing good for the future of the Sling platform. I guarantee this will mean broad implementation of commercials and possibly even monthly fees on future slingboxes, and even worse, a large company trying to dictate how and when we can stream our media.
I agree. Sling as an independent company would've given us more innovative products and options. I cannot see why Dish wanted them except to monetize the Sling platform via commercials, monthly fees, etc...
Also now other sports leagues might be willing to STOP the slinging of Baseball, NFL, NBA games or the upcoming olympics, etc... They MIGHT let pag customers access to all shows, but 'regular' customers might not get those. Plus now maybe the cellphone companies will not allow slinging to mobile devices.
I'm totally bummed. I was hoping TiVO would acquire them. And $380MM sounds like a pittance when stupid stuff like Facebook is valued in the billions.
Couldn't have said it better! Tivo would have been a much better match. Well Sling Dev Dudes, ignore that message I left about a cool, innovative addition to your product lineup (someone ask me what it is cause I don't have enough cash right now to file the patent).
I was gonna say this was a sad day for content time and location shifting, but the truly sad day will come when those fees, adds or commercials start showing up ;^(...
Guys, thanks for all the thoughts, but I hope to prove your concerns to be way overblown. The innovation is only beginning...and our top priority (you slingers out there) remains... Charlie (Ergen) is a visionary and someone who unquestionably plays to win...he knows our team well and I have confidence he will continue to let us run the company just like we have been doing for the past 3 years. That's what he wants from us...he's not going to pay that kind of money with the hopes we sit around on our asses.
Keep on Slingin' in a Free World,
Blake
Hey Blake K!
Thanks for the comments. I love my Slingbox. (It totally saved me for watching the last World Cup and I use it EVERYDAY at home (Mac, PC and Mobile phone) I really hope you guys continue to be innovative and that the platform grows without restrictions and becomes a fee based product instead of a device with free use. So, OK, you helped change my mind and I really hope all goes well. (and that you don't end up in the greedy hads of AT&T) Go Sling!!
Echostar owns a majority of Archos if memory serves and they still make flexible hardware like they always have. I'd rather have Echostar own Sling than Tivo. Tivo would find some way to embed their own ads and charge us a monthly fee for owning a Slingbox.
When I saw the headline I thought it must be wrong because they were already owned by Logitech.
But then I remembered that it's actually Slim Devices that Logitech owns. I always get these two confused.
Wow. I did NOT see that one coming...
hopefully they can come up with something where if it snows in my area, my box will automatacally stream TV via the internet from there headend
Charlie Ergen will find a way to screw up this business as well. I hope Dish falls on their face.
Greeaaatt. This probably means locked "slinging" for only DishNetwork...I mean, they surely won't let anyone try to use 'their' product to stream, let's say, cable or that other Satellite Company's shows....???
Now what's the alternative, Sony's LocationFree system? They don't seem to be open to licensing it...
Anybody know what this might do to my DirecTV SuperCast? That's Sling based...
Just give me a tuner card for my PC already!
There's an alternative to the forthcoming SlingCatcher that just released:
www.internetvue.com
I've played around with an early version and it worked great for watching videos on YouTube, movies from MovieLink, Powerpoints on TV, photos, etc. No format or content restrictions - whatever is on your PC is refit to your TV.
Awesome interview with the CEO of Sling Media (Blake Krikorian) just posted at Sling Community: http://www.slingcommunity.com/article/24591/The-Future-of-Sling-Media/