VOXXHirschmann to bring Slingplayer in-vehicle

VOXXHirschmann Announces Strategic Partnership with Sling Media to Bring the ‘Home Television Experience’ Directly into the Vehicle

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. and FOSTER CITY, Calif. — VOXX International Corporation (NASDAQ: VOXX), is pleased to announce that its wholly-owned subsidiary, VOXXHirschmann, has formed a strategic partnership with Sling Media, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS). The partnership will allow VOXXHirschmann to integrate a customized vehicle specific version of the Slingplayer app into its OEM designed rear-seat entertainment and vehicle connectivity line of products. This integration will give Slingbox owners the ability to watch live or recorded programming from their home cable or satellite TV subscription directly in the vehicle.

Under the terms of the agreement, VOXXHirschmann will become the exclusive automotive supplier of the Slingbox/Slingplayer solution operating in any vehicle entertainment sub system on a worldwide basis. This exciting business partnership aims to provide consumers with their full, at home television experience in any motor vehicle. Access to live TV, on-demand services and DVR content from a consumer’s set top box has to date been limited to desktop and portable devices. This partnership is the first of its kind for the automotive market and VOXX will leverage its innovative and proprietary entertainment product offerings to deliver a TV experience like never before.

The two companies will be working jointly to integrate the Slingbox technology including software and various applications into its new, Evolution Series (EVO) Rear Seat Infotainment family currently under development. The EVO system would contain the “connectivity smarts” of the entire system including the embedded Slingplayer app and will stream multiple types of media content wirelessly and/or wired to display monitors in the vehicle inclusive of BYOD. The EVO series with Slingbox integration will be available in all rear seat entertainment form factors including customized headrest systems, seat back mounted displays or overhead flip down monitors. Additionally, consumers will have the ability to access content from any portable device brought into the vehicle and then stream directly to the installed monitors through multiple wired or wireless connectivity options. The Company expects to have the new EVO product for OEMs, integrating Slingbox technology within a 12-18 month period.

Furthermore, the companies will also be working to integrate Slingbox technology into their embedded tuner modules or intelligent antenna systems, which when complete, will be integrated directly into the vehicle at the factory level as a Tier1 or Tier2 automotive OEM production offering.

Pat Lavelle, VOXX International’s President and CEO stated, “We are very excited with this partnership as it represents another first-to-market for our company and holds significant potential for our Automotive OEM group. One of the most compelling factors behind our acquisition of Hirschmann was the development of new technologies within their mobile multimedia tuners and intelligent antennas combined with our advanced North American Rear Seat Infotainment systems. We are positioned to bring to market connected solutions for OEMs that will provide true competitive differentiation. This is yet another example of our leadership position in the OEM category and while revenues may be 1-2 years away, we are confident that the exclusive addition of Slingbox technology to our offering will help us grow our top-line and expand our business within the global OEM marketplace.”

“Sling Media’s Slingbox technology delivers the ultimate TV Anywhere experience on the most devices with no monthly fees and our partnership with VOXX further expands our reach, this time into the back seats of automobiles,” said Michael Hawkey, senior vice president and general manager of Sling Media, Inc. “Integrating the Slingbox experience into the EVO Series Rear Seat Infotainment family will make watching live and recorded programming simple and enjoyable for customers, while providing more value for VOXX’s automotive OEM partners at the same time.”

VOXX International will be showcasing this solution at their booth at the 2015 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, NV (January 6-9, 2015 – Central Hall – Booth #10417).