What is Placeshifting?

Placeshifting technology allows anyone with a broadband Internet connection to have video streams from their home television set, DVR or other video source (such as a DVD player or home security camera) forwarded for viewing remotely on a computer, netbook or mobile phone at any location where they have a high-speed Internet connection or cellular data network.

Placeshifted content can be either live or recorded (such as with a DVR) programming and can be enjoyed both within the home on the home network or away from home via the Internet.  Most consumers do both: placeshifting in and around their home where they may not have a TV as well as away from their home – at work, at a café or in their hotel room halfway around the world.  The inspiration for placeshifting came from the desire to watch home baseball games when travelling for business.  Placeshifting lets consumers catch that game live, wherever they may be.  Their TV subscription service and associated content follows them anywhere they have an Internet connection.

PLACESHIFTING OR TIMESHIFTING, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

About ten years ago we began to hear about timeshifting and a new category of products called digital video recorders (DVRs). The DVR allowed users to record a program and watch it later at a more convenient time. Consumers could record programs using their VCR, but the DVR automated the process and added many more cool features and capabilities. The DVR allows users to access and watch TV programming they've already paid for at a more convenient time – not just when it is broadcast. However, timeshifted content is still watched locally, within the home on the TV to which the DVR is connected.

Placeshifting is broader and encompasses timeshifting. Placeshifting technology lets consumers watch live or timeshifted content (from their DVR) on any device with an Internet connection anywhere they happen to be. Users watch the live broadcast or recorded program remotely on their computer, mobile phone or even another TV!

TYPES OF PLACESHIFTING TECHNOLOGIES

IP-connected consumer electronics devices can provide placeshifting functionality from a video source such as a television, set-top box, or DVR. Sling Media's Slingbox, Sony's LocationFree and Monsoon Multimedia HAVA are examples of stand-alone products that, when connected to your home entertainment system, allow you to stream video to another device such as a computer, netbook or mobile phone.

Placeshifting functionality can also be built in to the set-top box, DVR or other IP-connected device. DISH Network's ViP®922 SlingLoaded™ DVR is an example of a SlingLoaded DVR from EchoStar (Sling Media's parent company). EchoStar has also announced the SlingLoaded T2200S HD DVR for cable operators.

Computer software applications and services from MythTV, Orb Networks, CyberLink, Sharpcast and Syabas Technology facilitate placeshifting of media stored on your PC to a remote laptop computer or phone. These software applications work similarly to remote desktop software like pcAnywhere in their ability to view and control devices (and specifically media stored on those devices) remotely. Obviously, users are limited to the content on their home computer. Now, with products from Sling Media,users can placeshift the video content on their home theater devices.