Sling Media announces the availability of a Wi-Fi-only version of its SlingPlayer Mobile application for iPhone and iPod touch at the iPhone App Store. Now iPhone and iPod touch users have access to their entire home TV experience in the palm of their hand.

HIT Entertainment and Sling Media announce a content distribution partnership for a variety of premium programming from HIT Entertainment that, in the coming weeks, will be available on Sling Media's free video entertainment web site, Sling.com. Sling.com will feature videos from a variety of popular HIT Entertainment properties, including Thomas the Tank Engine, Barney, Bob the Builder, and many others.

It appears much of the key management at Sling Media, now a division of EchoStar are leaving. Those who've decided to split ways include: chief executive Blake Krikorian, senior vice president of business development Jason Krikorian, president Jason Hirschhorn, chief creative officer Ben White and vice president of sales Greg Wilkes.

Echostar purchased Sling Media for $380 million in September 2007 and agreed to stay in place for a year after the completed deal.

Sling Media is widely known for its Slingbox “place-shifting” TV gadgets and Sling.com which launched late last year.

Sling Media introduces SlingGuide, a new web-based way to easily find, watch and record your favorite television programming from anywhere. SlingGuide allows consumers to browse, search and record programs on their DVR from any PC, Macintosh or compatible mobile phone. In addition, if the DVR is SlingLoaded or has a Slingbox connected to it, consumers can also watch live or recorded programs off their DVR through a web-based version of the SlingPlayer software that is integrated into SlingGuide. SlingGuide will be available first to DISH Network subscribers when it launches in spring of 2009.

DISH Network unveiled its SlingLoaded HD DuoDVR ViP 922. The ViP 922 is a high definition digital video recorder that incorporates placeshifting technology. The ViP 922 was built by EchoStar and developed for DISH Network as an entertainment centerpiece that – combined with the only 1080p Video on Demand and 100 percent, all-HD suite of programming packages available today – will revolutionize the way consumers watch and enjoy their favorite programming. DISH Network will offer the ViP 922 to customers in Spring 2009.

The ViP 922 allows TV enthusiasts to watch and control their favorite TV shows and sporting events from anywhere in the world via a broadband Internet connection on their laptop or mobile phone. With five video sources, including satellite, broadband and optional over-the-air tuners, viewers will never run out of shows to watch. The ViP 922 also features a multi-tuner DVR with up to 1,000 hours of recording time and supports connecting external hard drives for even more storage capacity.

Sling Media is demonstrating a version of SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone being developed for the iTunes store at this year's Macworld. Sling Media will deliver a version of SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone to Apple for certification in Q1.

Sling Media is also unveiling a prototype of the new SlingPlayer for Mac HD which allows Slingbox PRO-HD users to stream HD content to their Mac desktop or laptop computer. The new SlingPlayer for Mac HD is a web-based version of the SlingPlayer software that will be accessible from Sling.com, Sling Media's recently launched video entertainment web site. Sling Media can be found in two locations at this year's Macworld: The Mac Developer Pavilion- South Hall, #1438 (next to Apple) and the Digital Media and Multimedia Pavilion: North Hall #3526-Q.

Sling Media is pleased to announce that SlingCatcher is now available for purchase from leading retailers and online retailers in the U.S. as well as in Canada and the UK. The SlingCatcher is a universal media player that seamlessly delivers broadcast TV, Internet video and personal content to the TV.

The SlingCatcher allows customers to watch online video from any popular site on the internet including network television sites like ABC.com, video content sites like Hulu.com and CollegeHumor.com, community video sites like YouTube.com, and even online movie rentals from popular services like Netflix, directly from a PC to the TV for the ultimate lean-back, social viewing experience. The SlingCatcher, with its included remote control, also allows customers to access and control any device connected to a Slingbox – for instance a DVR, Cable or Satellite set-top box – located in another room in the house or even from a Slingbox in a remote location. And finally, connect a standard USB hard drive or USB flash drive and the SlingCatcher can playback on the TV most personal media stored on the hard disk, including home movies, personal videos, internet video downloads, etc.

Sling Media released a public beta of their SlingPlayer 2.0 Windows software. The SlingPlayer 2.0 software is free to download and adds several new features to the service. Users will be happy to find a built-in programing guide enabling quick channel search and channel change functionality from your PC with no IR delay. The upgrade also includes a live video buffer with DVR-like control, integrated Sling Accounts, and a slick new interface. What you won't find is Clip+Sling, but Sling insists that it remains in the works. The SlingPlayer 2.0 starts an "important transition process" for its future applications.

Find out the detailed information after the jump on SlingPlayer 2.0.

Sling Media will be showing their award-winning SlingPlayer Mobile software running on RIM BlackBerry smartphones at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, January 7th – 10th. The technology demonstration will take place in Sling Media’s booth, #73106, Sands Convention Center, using a BlackBerry Pearl 8120, which incorporates both cellular and Wi-Fi data connectivity. Sling Media will release SlingPlayer Mobile for BlackBerry later this year.

The personalized mobile TV experience for BlackBerry smartphones is enabled by the award-winning Slingbox which allows customers to watch their home TV on an Internet-connected Mac or PC as well as a number of mobile phone platforms including Windows Mobile, Palm OS and Symbian OS.

Sling Media announces the retail launch of the new Slingbox SOLO, a freshly designed new Slingbox that can connect to a standard definition or high definition set top box and features increased streaming performance for less than $200. Slingbox SOLO transforms PCs, laptops, Macs and a variety of smartphones into personal, portable TVs and builds upon the goals of the original Slingbox -- giving consumers the freedom to view their home cable, satellite or DVR programming on a wide range of devices anywhere they can access the Internet. Slingbox SOLO is available in retail stores and at www.slingmedia.com for a suggested retail price of $179.99.

EchoStar announces that it has agreed to acquire Sling Media a privately-held digital lifestyle products company. EchoStar, through its DISH Network, is the third largest pay-TV provider in the United States. The transaction values Sling Media at approximately $380 million and is payable in cash and EchoStar options. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Sling Media, the creators of the Slingbox, rolled out two new HomePlug powerline solutions for the Slingbox. The SlingLink TURBO offers a higher speed connection between the Slingbox and the router, thus creating a better Slingbox experience for customers. The SlingLink TURBO 4 Port is available in many retail locations as well as online, with the SlingLink TURBO 1 Port hitting retail shelves in the coming weeks.

In a first for all major professional sports leagues, the National Hockey League is partnering with Sling Media around the company’s upcoming Clip+Sling technology. The NHL and Sling Media have signed an agreement whereby Sling Media’s Clip+Sling technology will enable all current and future Slingbox customers to clip and share live or recorded segments of NHL programming online with friends, family and others.

“Having the most tech-savvy fans of all major professional sports, who also tend to be early adopters of new technology, makes offering NHL content through Clip+Sling a natural fit,” said Keith Ritter, President, NHL Interactive CyberEnterprises. “This partnership expands the visibility of our NHL games online and we are excited and proud to be the first sports league to offer this service to our fans.”

Until now, you would have used a PC or mobile phone to receive television streams from your Slingbox, but that was all before the SlingCatcher. Sling Media is about to reveal the SlingCatcher, their new device that allows you to 1) receive video and files from your PC to your TV and 2) TV streams from your Slingbox and other connected devices either in your home or on the road.

There's a ton of buzz around this and they become rather confusing as they make it sound like the SlingCatcher actually sends content from your PC to TV. On the contrary, the SlingCatcher will be on the receiving end allowing you to display streams from your home-connected PC or Slingbox.

Sling Media and Palm announced at CES SlingPlayer Mobile for Palm OS, making it possible to watch television on the 3G-enabled Palm Treo 700p smartphone. However, not all Palm users will be thrilled. While Treo 650 and 680 users could try the software, it may prove limiting without the 3G network to power it.

SlingPlayer Mobile is a software client that gives Slingbox customers the ability to watch and control their home TV from a wirelessly enabled smartphone.