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Liberty, EchoStar sign on to invest in Slingbox

Device lets viewers watch their TV anywhere in world

Joyzelle Davis, Rocky Mountain News

Published February 1, 2006 at midnight

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Media giants EchoStar Communications and John Malone's Liberty Media contributed to a $46.6 million investment in the maker of the Slingbox, which allows viewers to watch their living-room television from anywhere in the world.

Douglas County-based Liberty and EchoStar, which operates the Dish Network satellite-TV service, are among at least seven investors that contributed to the latest round of financing for San Mateo, Calif.-based Sling Media. Other investors include Goldman Sachs & Co., Allen & Co. and Hearst Corp.

The Slingbox shifts TV programming from a user's home to any computer via the Internet, allowing a viewer to watch a hometown sports team while in another city where the game isn't broadcast. The investment comes at a time when content providers and distribution companies are increasingly collaborating with new technologies to make television more portable and interactive, such as Disney's agreement to sell ABC network shows through Apple's iTunes store.

"We view smaller investments in emerging technologies as a positive for EchoStar as the company works to keep its product offering relevant as the environment evolves," wrote Aryeh Bourkoff, an analyst with UBS Investment Research, in a note to clients.

EchoStar in late 2004 invested about $10 million in French company Archos, which manufactures EchoStar's recently released PocketDish. EchoStar spokesman Marc Lumpkin noted that Slingbox already provides a way for Dish Network customers to "take their video subscription with them" and that the companies will explore ways to further integrate their services following this investment.

John Orr, a spokesman for Liberty, didn't return a call for comment. Media conglomerate Liberty's holdings include premium movie channel Starz Entertainment Group and home-shopping channel QVC.

Slingbox plans to use the $46.6 million infusion to expand into mobile platforms like cell phones and handheld devices. Sling Media also recently announced plans to introduce Macintosh-compatible versions and offer the service beyond the U.S. market.

The company won't disclose how many boxes it has sold, said spokesman Brian Jaquet.

Slingbox

• What: A device that allows you to view television programming on your laptop anywhere you go, provided there's a wireless Internet (WiFi) connection

• Cost: $249.99

• How it works: Connect your video source (cable/satellite) to the Slingbox; connect the Slingbox to your computer network; install the Slingplayer software on your laptop.

You can then access your video source anywhere you can get a WiFi connection.