Sling will compete in crowded field as founders move on
The Krikorian brothers and other top execs at Sling Media deserve to take some time off - soak up some sun in Maui or maybe take an extended cruise. Not only did they create some of the most revolutionary television technology since TiVo, they also got out just in time - right before that place shifting concept gets shadowed by networking technology. The executives have left or will soon leave parent company EchoStar, which acquired Sling more than a year ago.
Sling, of course, is best known for its Slingbox, which allows users to access the content on their home TVs - whether live or DVR-recorded - from a remote location. Recently, it introduced Sling Catcher, a device that allowed that same content to be transmitted to other sets within the house. And now, it also offers Web-based television content over the Internet at sling.com. These are all good things - and the company was recognized at both CES and Macworld with Best of Show honors.
But that's not to say there aren't challenging times ahead for Sling and its product line. The wireless network is increasingly becoming mainstream and content is moving online. In some cases, content is streamed from a hosted site somewhere. In other cases, it's stored on networked home storage devices for accessibility by all of the home's computers. At CES, the buzz was all around TVs with built-in Web connectivity, a breakthrough that creates many opportunities and possibilities in a networked environment.
At some point, Sling - at least in its current form - could become a victim of its own concept. Web-connected devices that bring content into the home - from Apple TV to Vudu - are starting to pop up, creating a new competitive landscape for viewer attention. As technology evolves, viewers will no longer be tied to a single set, or even a specific home DVR to catch up on their favorite shows. Whether it's from the back bedroom or a hotel room on the other side of the country, networked television content will someday be accessible with a log-in and a few clicks. At the very least, that does away with the need for a product like Sling - again, in its current form.
No, that won't happen tomorrow. But digital content technology keeps evolving - TiVo hasn't even been on the scene for 10 years and DVR is finally starting to become a household acronym. Hopefully, EchoStar will continue to innovate around Sling and build even more momentum around the brand and the months and years pass by. In the meantime, we'll keep an eye out for the well-rested and refreshed Krikorian brothers, who will likely be working on another disruptive venture soon enough.