There are have been a allot of stories going around the Internet about how Major League Baseball may go after
Sling Media.
Today we will talk about the issues and give you the HT Guys take on
the subject. As always feel free to send us your thoughts on the
subject.
The HT Guys are both dads, and
yes we both have some idea of what would make a nice Father's Day
present. As we're sure everyone already knows, especially our wives and
kids, Father's Day this year falls on June 17th. Instead of waiting
until the Friday show to talk about gift ideas, we decided to give you
a little time. This way if you're a dad, you have some time to plant
subliminal gift suggestions, or if you have a dad or husband you need
to buy something for, you have plenty of time get it. Of course, being
HT Guys suggestions, these are all very high tech gifts for the techno
minded dad.
SlingMedia VS Major League Baseball
Issue:
Slingboxes infringe on the local cable company's right to broadcast the content.
HT Guys Response: Give us a break. Its not like there are people who
have created sling farms and for a fee you can watch out of market
baseball. What you have is someone who wants to watch a broadcast meant
for him when he or she is on travel. If anything broadcasters should be
happy. Their advertisements are being seen by the person they were
intended for. If I see an ad for a local restaurant while I am 3000
miles away the ad is still relevant. If anything the Slingbox is good
for local cable companies and broadcasters.
Issue: Slingboxes infringe on MLB's Internet streaming of baseball games or Extra Innings Baseball packages.
HT Guys Response: Owning a Slingbox does not give you access to this
content. If I am interested in out of market baseball, the only way I
am going to get it is by buying MLB extra innings or MLB.TV Internet
broadcasts. Although if someone really wanted to, they could send a
Slingbox to a friend in the city they were interested in and have them
setup the sling box for them. This could potentially be problematic if
your friend wanted to watch something other than the game when you want
to.
Issue:
"Any rebroadcast, retransmission,
or account of this game, without the express written consent of Major
League Baseball is prohibited"
HT Guys Response:
- Broadcast defined -Transmission to a number of receiving locations simultaneously. Good to go here. Slingbox is one to one.
- Retransmission - To resend (a signal), as by wire or radio - This
is where MLB may have a case. But in this situation the case is against
the owner of the slingbox and not slingmedia. We all know you can't sue
the telephone company for someone using a telephone to commit a crime.
Good luck to MLB going after its biggest fans. Anyone so committed to
baseball that they'll buy a slingbox to watch its is someone MLB should
not sue!
- account of this game - I guess we can't even talk about the game or MLB may sue us.
So in the end. We don't think MLB can go after Sling and it's possible
they have a case against a user who slings baseball. Going after them
would not be something that would sit well with baseball fans. MLB
should just leave this one alone. After all, they want people to watch
the games and the commercials. Slingboxes get both done.
It wouldn't be Father's Day if it wasn't for the
wife and kids. Maybe the best present is a cool technologically savvy
way to remember them all year long, like the
Brookstone Digital Photo Keychain,
available for $50 US. Dad gets a cool gadget, and gets to see his
beautiful family all the time. Sounds like the perfect gift. It holds
up to 56 images - just try to stuff that many pictures in your wallet.
We
know that for many dads it wouldn't be Father's Day if you didn't get a
new tie. Why not mix it up this year and geek out a little with a
Sharper Image PowerTie Motorized Tie Rack?
You don't settle for anything but the best technology in your home
theater, why do you still have all your ties hanging from an old dry
cleaner hanger in the corner of your closet? It's time to step it up a
notch and automate your tie selection, and it's only $70 US.
Of course, if you haven't been hearing what we've been telling your for years, it's time to get a universal remote like the
Logitech Harmony 880 Remote Control.
Dad, start the subliminal campaign ASAP. This is the gift that just
keeps on giving. It will simplify your life, allow anyone to use your
home theater - even the babysitter and your mother-in-law - and make it
so you don't have to constantly explain, troubleshoot, fix, answer
questions, get frustrated... Are you getting the idea? Not a bad
lifestyle change for only $150 US.
How
many Dads haven't heard the phrase "Hey, could you please turn that
down?" Most of us hear it on a weekly basis. For you we recommend the
Pioneer SE-DIR800C HDPH Dolby Digital 5.1 Wireless Headphones.
They cost around $300 US, but it's worth it. Turn it up as loud as you
want, then not only are you not bothering anyone else, you also can't
hear them when they ask you to take out the trash.
Braden's gift request:
First
of all, let me say that I'm only thinking of the family on this one.
We love to watch movies together, and why not add fun times together
playing video games as a family? That counts as quality time, right?
Of course I'm talking about the
Sony Playstation 3.
It's a little pricey at $600 US, but I'm worth it. And we get to watch
Blu-ray movies together as a family, we get hours of fun and laughter
playing video games together, it's a no-brainer. By the way, if my
wife happens to ask you, it was all the kids idea. I have no clue how
they came up with it.
Ara's gift request:
My gift request is
a bit lofty and by no means do my kids have this kind of money. I guess
I am really asking the finance committee for approval more than the
gift itself. With the completion of the Myth TV Home Theater PC (show
coming in two weeks we promise) I only have one TV that does not have
access to the network for videos. So I am asking for approval to buy
another
Mac Mini and add it to my master bedroom TV.
