Comments on: MLB aims brushback pitch at Slingbox

Sling Media says there's nothing illegal about its set-top box, but baseball's honchos want it out of the game.

[wayne95125]

No need to sue Sling Media

I don't know what all the fuss is about. The Slingbox won't be
around in a couple of years. I doubt that they will be able to
raise another round from the VCs. The bottom line is the box
has too many requirements to gain mass acceptance. First, you
need broadband with good upload speeds. Second, you need a
router. Third, you need a wireless device to view the
programming. Fourth, you need a geek to set it up. Most people
don't have the technical savvy required to make this product
work.

They claim they have sold thousands, Big deal. Assume they go
on average for 200 bucks a pop. Let's say they sold 100
thousand units. That would give them 20M in sales so far, big
deal! They sell their units to the nerds and geeks and then where
do they go? This is no ipod, there will not be mass appeal for
this product and there isn't any itunes type of recurring
revenues.

One more thing, the lawsuits are probably inevitable as well.
Sling Media is going to have to use some of their powder
defending themselves in court.

These cats are doomed!!!

[ev61]

Hmmm...

Too many requirements??? Broadband: sure, not everyone has it, but $25 a month and you can. Router: who has broadband without a router? 50 bucks later you have wireless... do you think most broadband users plug their laptops into a modem every time they want to check their email?? Wireless device: I didn't know getting a smartphone, laptop, wifi PDA was sooo restrictive! Difficult to set up? Step one, plug in television feed. Step two, plug in ethernet cable. Step four, plug in AC adaptor. Step five, install included CD software on your computer. Step six, answer a few questions to help optimize your connection.

I run tivo and cable through my slingbox so I can watch the Twins, Wild and Gopher hockey while at school in Pennsylvania, as well as local news and local television. I subscribe to MLB.TV so I can watch Red Sox games and highlights when ESPN is covering the NFL and NBA 24/7/365. mlb.tv drives me nuts when it goes black during commercial breaks and comes back late, missing pitches and commentary. How else can I watch Gopher hockey and Minnesota news in Pennsylvania?

Also, it doesn't need to be an ipod to be a success, the mac has nothing on the pc in terms of sheer numbers, but it isn't disappearing anytime soon. I am not a mac guy, but some people are!

You should read slingbox's instruction sheet before you rip it, it took one tenth of the time it took me to set up my tivo.

Tivo+Slingbox+Router+Laptop=Pure viewing pleasure anytime, anywhere.

And the napster argument? Napster didn't require a password and product code to acquire music, the slingbox does. I cannot redistribute the video either, as recording is not possible. Also, the box works like a remote, giving the user complete control and domination over the attached device, so the number of users on it at any time is limited to the number of inputs it has. So, if you and 5 online friends wanted cable through the internet, you would need a coaxial input, a cable box with RCA outputs, a second cable box with an HD out, a third cable box with an S video output, etc, etc. Not a realistic option or comparison, as you would run out of inputs.

This just shows MLB's complete lack of competence. More fans equals more tickets, more ad revenue, more merch, etc. Why attack a product that increases your fanbase? Why not create a partnership with Sling Media and create a Slingbox Sports box, which would enhance sports playback, give users access to a unique website with increased sports highlights, replays and message boards with a small monthly fee or a small percent of the box sales going to each league... embrace the "wired" fan, don't hamper them!

[kent12er]

755

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[boratebomber]

Yet another reason not to watch their games...

Their stupid strike, their overpaid underachieving players in consort with their astronomically overpaid handlers and now this. Go to your local sandlot, support your local minor league, this is as good as it gets.

[norman1971]

Taking the fun out of sports.

I understand the need for any content providers to protect their intellectual property. However, using a slingbox is no different than watching tv at home, you're just sending the signal elsewhere. IF MLB sues, they will be made to look like fools in court, and it will once again demonstrate the greed inherent in business today.