Sling Media’s Next Generation Slingbox Family Delivers
Enhanced Performance, Price and Style.
Company introduces three new Slingbox models that increase streaming performance by up to 400% over the original Slingbox, including a model with optional HD component video input for consumers who have invested in high definition television.
San Mateo, CA — September 28, 2006 — Sling Media, Inc., a digital lifestyle consumer electronics company, today announced the nationwide availability of three new Slingbox models that significantly increase performance, provide the customer with choice depending on their home TV setup and start at as low as $179.99. The new Slingbox family is designed to meet the varied requirements of today’s TV households whether that’s basic analog cable, standard definition cable or satellite or next generation high definition television. The Slingbox PRO, Slingbox AV, and Slingbox TUNER transform PCs, laptops and Windows-based mobile phones and handheld computers into personal portable TVs. Slingbox owners can now watch and control their home cable, satellite or digital video recorder anywhere they can access the Internet, from their back yard to Beijing and everywhere in between. All three products are available to U.S. customers only starting today. More information can be found at www.slingmedia.com.
Sling Media has enhanced performance, increased the feature set and segmented the new Slingbox models for specific customer needs, adding new hardware and software features specific to each market segment. With an entry price of $179.99, Sling Media is giving customers more power, functionality and choice for their money. The Slingbox AV and Slingbox TUNER will carry an MSRP of $179.99 and the Slingbox PRO will retail for $249.99 MSRP. Sling Media will also make an optional HD component accessory called HD Connect available for the Slingbox PRO later this fall, which will carry an MSRP of $49.99.
“Just over a year ago, Sling Media delivered to consumers a ground breaking product that has now been incorporated into their daily lives,” said Blake Krikorian, co-founder and CEO of Sling Media. “With our new products, we are setting an even higher standard by incorporating industry-leading video quality and streamlined setup all at price points we feel will make the Slingbox an ideal holiday gift. Our mission has and will remain the same — to create the best possible consumer experience with innovative products that our customers simply love.”
Which Slingbox is Right for Me?
With the three new Slingbox models, Sling Media has created a product that fits the needs of every consumer, no matter how basic or sophisticated their home TV setup.
Slingbox PRO
The Slingbox PRO is designed for the consumer who has multiple A/V devices or has made an investment in high definition TV. The Slingbox PRO features four sets of audio-video inputs and outputs including the optional HD component connection for HD set-top box customers making for seamless integration into current A/V systems. Other new features include widescreen (16:9) support, high quality programmable video compression, easy connection to set-top boxes (e.g. digital cable, satellite, DVR) and remote control of A/V devices.
The optional cable for HD component set-top boxes is called the Slingbox HD Connect and it includes all the necessary cables to connect HD component video and audio to the Slingbox PRO. This accessory will be available later this fall. Customers who wish to seamlessly connect their HD receiver to the Slingbox PRO using the component connection will need to purchase this accessory.
Slingbox AV
The Slingbox AV gives consumers who watch TV using a standard definition cable set-top box, satellite receiver or DVR, the ability to connect their Slingbox AV seamlessly to their set-top box. Slingbox AV features the ability to watch and control TV from any Internet connected PC/Mac/laptop or Windows-based mobile device, widescreen (16:9) support and high quality programmable video compression.
Slingbox TUNER
The Slingbox TUNER is ideal for customers with cable who want to easily view their line-up of television channels and do not require access to a set-top box, satellite receiver, DVR or other AV device. The Slingbox TUNER easily connects adjacent to a cable modem or basic coaxial connection even without a TV present. This allows the Slingbox TUNER customer to view their cable channels without impacting another family member watching TV anywhere else in the home.
New Level of Customer Care
With this product launch, Sling Media is introducing a new customer support capability aimed at providing first-time customers with easy installation. Technology embedded in Sling Media’s setup wizard allows “live” chats between customers and Sling Media technical support representatives when the customer is going through the installation process. In addition to this “live” chat support, a Sling Media technical support representative can remotely control a customer’s PC (with the customer’s explicit permission) to assist in real time with the installation.
“Our focus on simple installation – including the ability to have live interaction with a technical support representative or allowing the technical support representative to remotely control a customer’s PC to make any necessary adjustments – raises the bar, setting a new standard in the industry that is unmatched today,” continued Krikorian. “Sling Media has taken a huge step forward with this product launch demonstrating our commitment to customer support as we continue to make “place-shifting” a household word.”
Nationwide Availability
The complete Slingbox family is available in over 3,000 stores nationwide through our retail channel partners which include: Amazon.com, Best Buy, Buy.com, Circuit City, CompUSA, Fry’s, J&R Computer World and at SlingMedia.com. Sling Media would like to welcome its newest retail partner, Office Depot, who will begin carrying Slingbox TUNER and Slingbox AV products in October. All three products are available for sale beginning today but retail stock and availability will vary from retailer to retailer. We suggest checking with your favorite retailer prior to visiting or check online. Local store inventory levels may also be checked online at http://us.slingmedia.com/page/wheretobuy.html.
Canada and the Rest of the World
Sling Media is also making its SlingPlayer Mobile software available to Canadian customers through its web site starting today. Customers can now download and purchase a registration key from www.slingmedia.com for $34.99 CAD. The new Slingbox products announced today are expected to be available in Sling Media’s Canadian retail channels, including Best Buy, FutureShop, London Drugs and others within the next 60 days. Global availability details will be announced in Q1, 2007.
About Sling Media
Sling Media, Inc. is a digital lifestyle products company creating a family of consumer electronics solutions that are a natural extension of today’s digital way of life. The first member of the Sling Media family is the award-winning Slingbox, a device that allows consumers to access their living room television experience at any time, from any location, using a variety of different displays including laptops and desktop PCs, PDAs and smartphones. The Slingbox is now available in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Brazil through traditional retail channels and local service providers. For more information on Sling Media or the Slingbox, visit www.slingmedia.com.
Media contact:
Brian Jaquet
Sling Media, Inc.
jaquet@slingmedia.com
(650) 293-8022 office
(415) 235-4844 mobile
