Any Slingboxes still out there are about to get bricked. Dish Network this week emailed reminders to users of Sling Media’s Slingbox — the once-controversial devices that “place-shift” pay TV services by streaming live TV over the internet — that the servers that power Slingboxes will be permanently taken offline on Nov. 9.
Slingbox has reached its endpoint, with Sling Media announcing that all Slingbox products and services were discontinued on Nov. 9, and will permanently be taken offline on Nov. 9, 2022. Sling Media, a subsidiary of Dish, said the decision is being made to “make room for new innovative products so that we can continue to serve our customers in the best way possible.” This will not include any new Slingbox products.
The pros and cons of the digital antenna, Slingbox and other alternatives for viewers looking to watch the TV they love.
The new SlingTV is identical to the Slingbox 500 currently on the market, but with new software to recommend things to watch. On the living-room TV, you can see scores and stats for games currently on TV, along with a guide to what’s exciting at the moment, such as a team making a comeback. The new software will also give you more information on movies and TV shows. Because the box still can’t record shows, the Slingbox’s biggest appeal will likely remain in remote viewing — both when traveling and on devices in other rooms.
Although services such as Hulu let you watch television shows over the Internet, new episodes aren’t typically available until the day after they air. Your cable or satellite TV provider may offer apps for watching, but the channels offered vary from provider to provider, and trying to figure out what’s available when or where can be frustrating. Here are a few options for TV on the go:
Exclusives
Time Warner Cable said that it would subsidize some purchases of a set-top box called Slingbox that allows users to watch their home television programming from anywhere. It will give subscribers to its $99-a-month Wideband Internet service, which is faster and costlier than traditional broadband, a rebate for the total cost of the $300 device.
