Sling Adds Entertainment Unit

By Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 12/1/2006

San Mateo, Calif. – Sling Media created a new Sling Media Entertainment Group, naming Jason Hirschhorn, formerly of TripleH Partners Media, and Benjamin White, formerly of MTV Networks, to oversee its operation.

The new group, which is based in New York, will create next-generation entertainment experiences for the Slingbox community, the company said.

The team will deliver “entirely new applications and services enabled by the Slingbox’s marriage of familiar TV programming and richly interactive Web-connected devices,” according to a Sling Media statement.

The Sling Media Entertainment Group will also manage Sling Media’s existing and future collaborative efforts with content creators, distributors and advertisers.

Hirschhorn was a founding partner at TripleH Media Advisors, a digital media consultancy, and earlier had been chief digital officer at MTV Networks, where he ran digital media businesses and interactive strategy.

White had been MTV’s digital media VP, “managing the full scope of the MTV Networks brand’s digital business including programming, production and product development.” Most recently, he oversaw the launch of MTV Overdrive, which is a broadband video network.

“Jason and Ben bring a wealth of knowledge, experience and relationships with them and are true thought leaders in the digital entertainment space,” said Sling Media CEO Blake Krikorian. “I am thrilled they have joined Sling Media and excited about the direction our company is taking as we leverage the great enthusiasm for the Slingbox and create new wickedly cool experiences for consumers,” said Blake Krikorian, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Sling Media.