Earns Emmy Award, Sells Products Worldwide — Acquired By EchoStar for $380 Million
Play ball? Perhaps not ‘play,’ but Sling Media founders definitely wanted to ‘watch’ baseball while traveling, even more so when their hometown team, the San Francisco Giants, was in the middle of the playoff hunt and ultimately made it to the World Series in 2002. In fact, they were so disappointed that they couldn’t always see their team in action while traveling that they set out to create a company to address this need.
Founded by Bay Area natives Blake and Jason Krikorian, Sling Media launched its first product, Slingbox, with Best Buy in 2005, and won a notable Best-of-CES Award right out of the gate. Slingbox turns any Internet-connected PC or laptop, Mac, or smartphone into your home television — so that means you can watch TV virtually anywhere in the world.
Reaching beyond its Slingbox roots, the company created the Sling Entertainment Group in 2006 to develop entertainment experiences and new business models revolving around these new ways of watching television.
The Microsoft Connection?
Microsoft has been Sling Media’s platform partner since the company was incorporated in 2004. The company’s core technology leverages Windows Media audio and video in the Slingbox, and supports client devices on Microsoft operating systems including XP, Vista, and Windows Mobile.
Recalls Jason, “Early on, Microsoft was a great help. In our previous consulting business, we had worked quite a bit with wireless video, investigating audio/video codecs, and were really impressed with Windows Media video. We thought it provided the best basis for an excellent product, so we started working with the Microsoft Media Technology organization at that time. We even worked with them to identify silicon providers to choose the best one for our product — we depended heavily on consultation with Microsoft to help us evaluate various DSP chip solutions. Before we even had funding, or a platform to build on, we spent a lot of time in Redmond.”
In addition to working with this team at Microsoft, the Sling Media founders also leveraged the Emerging Business Team, getting help with technical support, compatibility testing, implementation reviews, and introductions to other product teams and groups. Sling Media was selected as launch partners at several product unveilings, including Windows Mobile, Table/Ultra Mobile PV, and the recent Vista launch, where Microsoft provided support for delivery of a new version of the Sling Media software, SlingPlayer for Windows Vista, for this CES 2007.
Where Are They Now?
In January 2007, Sling Media won an Emmy Award for, are you ready for this mouthful, “Outstanding Achievement in Advanced Media Technology for the Creation of Non-Traditional Programs or Platforms.” While Sling Media doesn’t disclose financial numbers, it claims to be selling “hundreds of thousands of units” — distributing products in 5,000 retail stores in 12 countries. Its strategy and sales momentum clearly caught the attention of EchoStar, who acquired Sling Media in late September for $380 million. (See Sling Media, EchoStar Tie Knot/Red Herring, add link). EchoStar, through its DISH Network, is the third largest pay-TV provider in the United States.
Says Jason, “Early on, we told Microsoft our company was a new category, and they supported us and invested right alongside us. We’re excited about the opportunities with EchoStar as they will help see the vision through. We’re really at about step two of 10 now.” To which we at Microsoft say, stay tuned.
For more information, visit Sling Media online or the Sling Media partner page at Microsoft.com.
