Sling Media
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Technology |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founder | Blake Krikorian, Jason Krikorian, Bhupen Shah |
| Fate | Acquired by EchoStar in 2007; now a division of Dish Technologies Corporation |
| Successor | Dish Technologies Corporation (division) |
| Headquarters | Foster City, California , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Slingbox, SlingCatcher, Slingplayer applications, SlingTV |
| Owner | Dish Network (via Dish Technologies Corporation) |
| Parent | Dish Technologies Corporation (Dish Network) |
Sling Media Inc. is a United States-based technology firm focusing on placeshifting and Smart TV innovations aimed at consumers, multiple-system operators, and manufacturers of set-top boxes. Located in Foster City, California, Sling Media became part of Echostar after being acquired in 2007. Its premier product, the Slingbox, debuted in the American market on July 1, 2005. Following a corporate asset swap in early 2017, Sling now functions under the name Dish Technologies Corporation as a division of Dish Network.
History
Established in 2004 by San Francisco brothers Blake and Jason Krikorian alongside Bhupen Shah, who played a key role in setting up Sling’s operations in Bangalore, the company’s concept originated during the 2002 Major League Baseball season when the founders wanted to watch games remotely.
On September 24, 2007, EchoStar purchased Sling Media for around US$380 million. The Krikorian brothers exited the company by January 2009.
Blake Krikorian died from a heart attack at age 48 on August 3, 2016.
On June 6, 2025, EchoStar Corporation, Sling’s parent firm, reportedly prepared for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to an FCC suspension that impacted strategic choices for its Boost Mobile subsidiary, missed interest payments exceeding $500 million, and the cancellation of Dish Network's acquisition by DirecTV.
Retail Slingbox Hardware
(refer also to Slingbox)
The initial Slingbox model, called the Slingbox Classic, was released on July 1, 2005. Created by designer Yves Béhar, it featured a unique "foil-wrapped chocolate bar" aesthetic.
Second Generation - AV, Tuner and Pro
The second generation brought forward the Slingbox AV, Tuner, and Pro variants. The Slingbox AV provided simplified s-video and composite input options. The Slingbox Tuner was designed for users with basic cable or antenna setups using a single coaxial input. The Slingbox Pro combined these capabilities with a four-input configuration and supported high-definition sources through optional cables for component video and digital audio.
Third Generation - SOLO and PRO-HD
In 2007, the company introduced the Slingbox SOLO—a more affordable and streamlined version of the Pro that delivered high-quality standard definition streaming. The following year, the Slingbox PRO-HD enabled placeshifting of HDTV (1080i) content and included an ATSC tuner for over-the-air broadcasts. The SOLO was later rebranded as the Slingbox 120 for certain niche and international markets.
Some units from this generation suffered from capacitor failures commonly referred to as the capacitor plague. Many customers performed repairs themselves while Sling provided support to address these issues. Refurbished third-generation models have since been restored to correct this defect.
Fourth Generation - 350 and 500
In October 2012, Sling Media unveiled the Slingbox 350 and 500 as successors to the SOLO and PRO-HD models. Following the digital television transition in the United States, demand for standard definition devices waned, resulting in both new models supporting HDTV. However, unlike the PRO-HD, neither included an ATSC digital tuner. The Slingbox 350 functioned as an entry-level option featuring one SD/HD audio-video input (composite or component) along with an Ethernet port for Internet access.
The Slingbox 500 was aimed at advanced Smart TV features by integrating placeshifting with streaming applications from Dish Digital such as Dishworld and Blockbuster On-Demand. It also offered personal media management and playback capabilities. This model supported Wi-Fi connectivity and HDMI passthrough; however, due to restrictive HDCP DRM, Sling recommended using component cables for placeshifting purposes.
Fifth Generation - Slingbox M1
July 2014 saw Sling Media unveil the Slingbox M1, an acclaimed successor to the Slingbox 350. This model was the first in the Slingbox lineup to provide built-in Wi-Fi connectivity across all devices. Configuration of the M1 was possible via Slingplayer applications available on iPad, iPhone, Android smartphones, and the revived Slingplayer for Desktop, thereby improving cross-platform usability.
SlingTV and the Slingbox 500
Also released in July 2014, SlingTV arrived as a complimentary upgrade for those owning a Slingbox 500. It introduced a graphical user interface featuring informational overlays optimized for television viewing in living rooms, complementing its placeshifting functionality. The interface delivered content suggestions based on aggregated viewing habits, popularity metrics, and social engagement. This update was rolled out to existing Slingbox 500 users by September 2014.
After licensing the Sling brand to Dish Network for its Sling Television OTT offering, the device reverted to being called the Slingbox 500.
Additional Hardware and Accessories
In 2008, Sling launched the SlingCatcher, a device designed to stream media from a remote Slingbox or personal library. It received varied feedback due to its limited capabilities such as lack of HDTV support, complexity in operation, and relatively high cost.
Earlier versions of Slingboxes did not include Wi-Fi, making network setup challenging without Ethernet access points nearby. To mitigate this issue, Sling introduced the SlingLink power line adapters. However, with the introduction of Wi-Fi-enabled models like the Slingbox 500, the SlingLink product line was phased out and is no longer maintained.
Desktop Viewing - Slingplayer for Desktop and Watch
Initially, users accessed free desktop software compatible with Windows and Mac systems to stream content from their Slingboxes. This was later replaced by the Watch website employing an NPAPI plug-in. Following Google's discontinuation of NPAPI support in Chrome and responding to customer requests, Sling reintroduced the Slingplayer for Desktop application for both Windows and Mac platforms concurrent with the launch of the M1 model. This application supports only the M1 device. The Watch website now features banner advertisements and intermittent pre-roll commercials.
Mobile Slingplayer
Slingplayer applications are offered on iOS devices (iPhone and iPad), Android smartphones and tablets, Kindle Fire devices, as well as Windows 8.1 tablets. Previously supported platforms included Blackberry, Palm OS, and Symbian OS.
These mobile apps enable streaming ("casting") of video content to televisions through Smart TV streaming devices such as:
- Apple TV using AirPlay (limited to iOS)
- Roku devices via a dedicated Slingplayer app for Roku
Native applications for connected media players including WD TV Live, Sony Internet Player with Google TV, Netgear NeoTV, Boxee Box, and Logitech Revue were once available but were discontinued as of July 2014 and are no longer supported.
OEM Solutions
Apart from consumer products, Sling provides solutions tailored for multiple-system operators and set-top box manufacturers aiming to deliver licensed content on mobile platforms and integrate Smart TV functionalities. These offerings encompass an SDK, cloud-based infrastructure, and custom engineering services.
Sling’s technology is integrated into:
- Dish Network’s Sling Adapter utilized in ViP 722, ViP 722k, and XiP 813 (Hopper) set-top boxes—also referred to as the Slingbox 700U.
- Dish Network XiP 913 (Hopper with Sling) set-top box.
- Dish Network ViP 922.
- The Dish Anywhere platform.
- The ARRIS MS4000 device.
Criticism and controversy
Slingbox initially encountered legal challenges concerning its capability to circumvent geographic restrictions, allowing users to remotely access region-locked content, particularly live sports broadcasts. Nonetheless, courts have likened placeshifting to timeshifting, which has been recognized as "non-infringing fair use" due to its private and personal application. Sling Media’s technology enforces access control by limiting usage to a single authorized individual, thereby maintaining the customary private use conditions associated with copyrighted materials.
Broadcasting
Although initially controversial, Slingbox devices have secured a role within television broadcast operations. Broadcast technicians at various stations deploy Slingboxes at remote "towercam" locations to oversee traffic and weather conditions. For instance, KPIX-TV in San Francisco utilizes wireless EV-DO cellular networks for connectivity. This approach incurs costs of several hundred dollars per site, a fraction compared to the tens of thousands typically required for conventional remote pickup units and supplementary broadcast licensing. However, Slingbox solutions currently lack the robustness and broadband capacity necessary for dependable live remote broadcasting.
Cable television operators also employ Slingboxes as tools for providing advertisers with proof of performance. Furthermore, they facilitate amateur TV broadcasts and offer hosted Slingbox services where devices are maintained within data centers. This arrangement enables users to stream television content remotely across multiple devices, including PCs, smartphones, and televisions.
Clip+Sling
During the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show, Sling Media introduced Clip+Sling, a planned feature designed to allow users to share segments of TV programs through a hosted online platform. This announcement took place during Leslie Moonves' keynote address.
On December 2, 2008, Sling Media unveiled Sling.com, an online video service featuring clips, television shows, movies, news, and sports from more than 90 content providers and over 150 brands. Owners of Slingbox devices could also connect to their hardware via the website without needing to install software.
Despite initial plans, Clip+Sling was never brought to market; instead, Sling.com transformed into the central hub for the web-based Watch player. This evolution aligned with Sling Media’s strategy to shift users from desktop applications toward web-enabled Slingbox access.
Placeshifting patent litigation
In January 2013, EchoStar and Sling Media initiated legal action against Belkin and Monsoon Multimedia, alleging infringement of five patents related to placeshifting. By March 2013, Sling Media had filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission seeking to block imports of Belkin's @TV and Monsoon's Vulkano products, also targeting semiconductor components from C2 Microsystems.
The dispute between Belkin and Sling Media was resolved by May 2013 through settlement. Subsequently, in December 2013, the ITC concluded the case by prohibiting the importation of Monsoon Multimedia products into the United States.