AFANA Footy BBS

Dear Fellow Aussie Rules Fans.

I am a Aussie who has just moved back to California(lived here 6 years previously).

I am happy to tell you there is a way to watch Foxtel's Fox Footy in the USA if you have a highspeed internet connection and a family member in Australia with Foxtel Digitial.

There is a new invention called Sling Media (www.slingmedia.com) that basically allows you to watch cable television anywhere in the world via your computer/laptop and a high speed internet connection.

While it is designed for the US I bought a US version (NTSC) and a Pal convertor and sent it to a friend in Australia who is technically minded and he managed to set it up. (A PAL version is due out next month but I couldn't wait and it works fine - great sound and image on my laptop).

Bascially it is as simple as this. The Sling Media "box" goes in between the Foxtel Box and the TV in Australia, it also has a lead that connects to the internet (must be high speed - like foxtel).

Once this is set up you then have some software that you load on your computer which references the IP address of the Sling Box in Australia.

The computer links with the Australia based Sling box (via internet) and you can watch all Foxtel Channels - including the Fox Footy Channel live on your computer. While the image is not as good a watching in Oz it is far better than anything currently on offer. It even has a remote control function that lets you change channels and view all other Foxtel channels.

I am not the technically minded one who set this up, so please don't request info more than I have given as I don't know any more than I have written.

In saying that I can tell you I am one very happy camper watching Fox Footy on my laptop anywhere I can connect to a highspeed Internet connection (just watched Swans in hotel in Hong Kong).

Do yourself a favour and check out Sling Media's website and it will explain all.

Life suddenly got very enjoyable very quickly. Now for the Swans to go back-to-back!!!

Good Luck,

Nick

> There is a new invention called Sling Media (www.slingmedia.com) that basically
> allows you to watch cable television anywhere in the world via your computer/laptop
> and a high speed internet connection.
> The computer links with the Australia based Sling box (via internet) and you can
> watch all Foxtel Channels - including the Fox Footy Channel live on your computer.
> While the image is not as good a watching in Oz it is far better than anything
> currently on offer. It even has a remote control function that lets you change
> channels and view all other Foxtel channels.

Thanks, Nick, for posting this. I will be interested in other comments on this also.

I would note though, that the legality of this and similar devices has yet to be determined but for now, until we know otherwise, it is yet another option for the footy disenfranchised.

I think these devices will hasten the day we get live footy via the AFL web site.

-Rob de Santos
AFANA Chairman

AFANA TV Info Page

> I would note though, that the legality of this and similar devices has yet to be
> determined but for now, until we know otherwise, it is yet another option for the
> footy disenfranchised.

Sling Box is not the first invention along these lines. A couple years ago I suggested AFANAites pitching in to buy a similar product, and we would all meet at your house to watch the footy. Consensus legal opinions that I have seen on these is that in the US they are covered under the Sony Betamax decision.

That doesn't mean Australian law recognizes the legality. And I'm sure there will be US legal cannons aimed at these, especially if they become popular. Given the fact that the US House & Senate are basically in the pocket of well-heeled lobbyists of the RIAA, MPAA, etc., we can expect to see laws designed to prevent the use of these systems.

But as the laws are currently configured, Betamax says Americans can use a Sling Box.

And Nick, it is nice to see another individual of such obvious class and intelligence.

    -- RW "KC Swan" Lipp

Hi Guys,

A couple of things I forgot to mention.

The total cost of SlingBox and Pal converter was US$400. A small price to pay in my mind for footy coverage.

Obviously you also need the high speed internet connection and a co-operative friend in Australia with Foxtel Digital.

Not sure on the legal issues raised but this company is not only growing rapidly and expanding globally (Europe will get PAL version next month) it is getting serious coverage, investment and awards due to this great invention.

It should be noted that Sony also has a similar version of the the "place shifting" technology called "Location Free". (http://products.sel.sony.com/locationfreetv/flash.html)

The only reason I mention this is that if Sony is getting into this area (and working with Microsoft & Apple on it) I would imagine that the legal issues would have been raised, especially in the US.

Anyway, I hope this info has been helpful and for those who utilise it I hope this brings them a bit closer to home.

Cheers,

Nick

> Dear Fellow Aussie Rules Fans.

> I am a Aussie who has just moved back to California(lived here 6 years previously).

> I am happy to tell you there is a way to watch Foxtel's Fox Footy in the USA if you
> have a highspeed internet connection and a family member in Australia with Foxtel
> Digitial.

> There is a new invention called Sling Media (www.slingmedia.com) that basically
> allows you to watch cable television anywhere in the world via your computer/laptop
> and a high speed internet connection.

> While it is designed for the US I bought a US version (NTSC) and a Pal convertor and
> sent it to a friend in Australia who is technically minded and he managed to set it
> up. (A PAL version is due out next month but I couldn't wait and it works fine -
> great sound and image on my laptop).

> Bascially it is as simple as this. The Sling Media "box" goes in between
> the Foxtel Box and the TV in Australia, it also has a lead that connects to the
> internet (must be high speed - like foxtel).

> Once this is set up you then have some software that you load on your computer which
> references the IP address of the Sling Box in Australia.

> The computer links with the Australia based Sling box (via internet) and you can
> watch all Foxtel Channels - including the Fox Footy Channel live on your computer.
> While the image is not as good a watching in Oz it is far better than anything
> currently on offer. It even has a remote control function that lets you change
> channels and view all other Foxtel channels.

> I am not the technically minded one who set this up, so please don't request info
> more than I have given as I don't know any more than I have written.

> In saying that I can tell you I am one very happy camper watching Fox Footy on my
> laptop anywhere I can connect to a highspeed Internet connection (just watched Swans
> in hotel in Hong Kong).

> Do yourself a favour and check out Sling Media's website and it will explain all.

> Life suddenly got very enjoyable very quickly. Now for the Swans to go
> back-to-back!!!

> Good Luck,

> Nick

> Sling Box is not the first invention along these lines. A couple years ago I
> suggested AFANAites pitching in to buy a similar product, and we would all meet at
> your house to watch the footy. Consensus legal opinions that I have seen on these
> is that in the US they are covered under the Sony Betamax decision.

Yes, you certainly did, KC. In fact here's the thread link.

-Rob de Santos
AFANA Chairman

TV 2 Me Thread

> here's the thread link.

As I predicted in that thread, the price has gone down. At that time the TV2Me was $6500. Now it is only $4750. Still not exactly priced for the same market as Sling Box. Other comments about the technology and implication for worldwide video distribution still apply.

                 -- Swannie

> I would note though, that the legality of this and similar devices has yet to be
> determined but for now, until we know otherwise, it is yet another option for the
> footy disenfranchised.

Apparently, the Australian government doesn't know either... see link.

-Rob de Santos
AFANA Chairman

Regulator confused on Net TV

> > I would note though, that the legality of this and similar devices has
> yet to be

> Apparently, the Australian government doesn't know either... see link.
>

> -Rob de Santos
> AFANA Chairman

There may be legal nits to pick, but the fact that the SlingBox and TV2Me are sending a feed to one and ONLY one receiving machine works in their favor - they're not turning a TV channel into an internet broadcast that tens or hundreds of people could tap into. That suggest that they'd fall under the Betamax Ruling here in the USA - though many media companies hate anything like that ruling that gives rights/flexibility to viewers. (Heck, they've been chipping away at Fair Use for some time now.)

George