If I'm in a hotel room far away from home, and I can't see the Sox game, the chances are pretty slim that I will watch the local game. So I would be stuck watching something that isn't baseball. Or browsing on the Internet or out having a few drinks. I think a lot of people would fit that description. Mr. Mayor, have you been following me? You just described my current lifestyle to a T. At this moment, I have the FOX MLB broadcast on the tube, hoping to catch an update on the only game that matters. Tonight, after a thrilling session in the laundromat, I will have a few drinks. I have seen nothing that tells me much about Slingbox, but I'd really like to know more. I may have to jump all over it.
Stofer nibbled around the edge of their complaint. I think the main concern is that it can be, in effect, pirated. Say I buy the MLB package. My buddy, who's moved from Michigan to Colorado, buys a Slingbox and we hook it up to my service as the "home" location. He can now watch his Tiger games to his heart's content and not pay a penny for the MLB package. Of course, if the powers that be at MLB would take their heads out of their asses, they'd design a system that's fan friendly where you can buy access to whatever games you want, with the participating teams getting a cut of the action. Black out the area within a REASONABLE drive of the stadium to protect ticket sales. Otherwise, leave the fans to their fun. Let's face it. My buddy isn't likely to make the trip to Detroit from the western foothills of the Rockies, but if he could buy an MLB package that gave him the content he wanted, it would make more sense than spending the money on a Slingbox anyway.
