Dish, EchoStar Sling Up 'TV Everywhere' Strategy

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Dish, EchoStar Sling Up 'TV Everywhere' Strategy
Adapter Sling-Enables Existing Set-Tops; Standalone Wi-Fi Monitor Displays HD Video
By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 1/6/2010 5:59:18 AM

Las Vegas — Dish Network, co-opting a term popularized by the cable industry, announced a "TV Everywhere" suite of products geared around EchoStar's Slingbox to let subscribers access live TV and DVR recordings over the Internet and home wireless networks while EchoStar rolled out a similar line aimed at other pay-TV providers.

As first reported by Multichannel News, Dish filed for trademark protection on the term "TV Everywhere" in September.

"Dish Network is proud to introduce the first and only comprehensive solution for consumers to pay once for content and then remain connected to their TV everywhere," Dish chief marketing officer Ira Bahr said in a statement. "Dish Network customers will be able to enjoy their favorite live and recorded shows throughout their home and on the go, using the same program guide, menu and navigation they are familiar with on their home TV."

Dish, which made the announcement at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show, will actually be about a year later than it expected on the TV Everywhere front. The satellite provider showed off the ViP 922 "SlingLoaded" DVR -- which features 1 Terabyte of recording space -- at CES 2009, and the company intended to ship it last spring.

At this point, Dish expects to offer the ViP 922 in the second quarter of 2010.

In addition, it expects to deliver two other EchoStar-developed devices: a TV Everywhere Adapter, which adds Slingbox capability to existing Dish HD DVRs such as the ViP 722k via a USB cable; and the WiFi HD Monitor, a portable, high-definition monitor that can receive an HD video signal at 720p quality from a Sling-enabled set-top box over a Wi-Fi network.

In addition, Dish is introducing the Remote Access App, which turns an iPhone or iPod Touch device into a remote control for most of its SD and HD DVR receivers. Users also can use the app to set and delete timers on multiple receivers; browse and search up to nine days of shows; and manage their DVR library by setting recording priorities. Customers without an iPhone or iPod touch can use Dish Remote Access through a Web browser on a PC or mobile device.

Meanwhile, EchoStar's Sling Media announced four products as part of its own strategy targeted at TV service providers and consumer electronics manufacturers.

The Slingbox 700U, like the Dish TV Everywhere Adapter, adds Slingbox capabilities to an existing Internet-connected set-top-box with a USB port. EchoStar also sells set-tops that have integrated Slingbox capabilities, like the ViP 922.

The Sling Monitor 150 is the standalone HD monitor, like Dish's WiFi HD Monitor, with a 15.6-inch 720p display that includes stereo audio speakers and incorporates a built-in folding stand for countertop or wall-mounted use. The monitor includes integrated dual-band 802.11n networking.

The Sling Receiver 300 -- designed as a companion to a SlingLoaded set-top box -- can deliver an HD video streams to any other television in the home over an existing wireless home network. It can be mounted behind an HDTV and includes HDMI, component and composite connectors.

Finally, the Sling Touch Control 100 is a touch-screen remote control with an interface based on Sling Media's SlingGuide electronic program guide that interacts with and controls Sling-enabled DVRs as well as other line-of-sight controlled audio-visual devices.

Dish Network and EchoStar's Sling Media will be demonstrating the products at CES this week from Jan. 7-10.

The two companies became separate entities in January 2008, but the DBS operator remains EchoStar's single biggest customer.

[dan9999]

DISH Network Introduces TV Everywhere

--New Products on Display at CES Include TV Everywhere Adapter --World's Smallest Slingbox Adds Sling Technology to DISH Network HD DVR Receivers

LAS VEGAS, Jan 06, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX News Network/ -- DISH Network L.L.C., America's fastest growing pay-TV provider, today introduced TV Everywhere(TM) -- a unique suite of integrated products designed to maximize the convenience and ease of watching TV anytime and anywhere.

"DISH Network is proud to introduce the first and only comprehensive solution for consumers to pay once for content and then remain connected to their TV everywhere," said Ira Bahr, Chief Marketing Officer for DISH Network. "DISH Network customers will be able to enjoy their favorite live and recorded shows throughout their home and on the go, using the same program guide, menu and navigation they are familiar with on their home TV."

TV Everywhere(TM) from DISH Network provides customers with access to all their live and recorded programming on a laptop, mobile device, or anywhere in the home wirelessly. Key components of TV Everywhere(TM) include the TV Everywhere Adapter; the award-winning ViP(R) 922; the new DISH Network WiFi HD Monitor; and the newly-released DISH Remote Access App.

Add TV Everywhere(TM) with the TV Everywhere Adapter -- the World's Smallest Slingbox

Developed in partnership with EchoStar Technologies L.L.C. and its affiliate Sling Media, Inc., the TV Everywhere Adapter adds Slingbox technology to existing DISH Network HD DVR receivers such as the ViP(R) 722k. The TV Everywhere Adapter is a sleek, ultra-slim device that easily connects to compatible set-top boxes via a single USB cable, removing the need for additional wires or a separate power supply. Once activated, the TV Everywhere Adapter provides DISH Network customers with the freedom to watch their favorite TV programming anytime and anywhere on laptops and mobile phones.

Watch Your TV Everywhere(TM) with the Award-Winning ViP(R) 922

DISH Network's award-winning HD DuoDVR(TM) ViP(R) 922 with TV Everywhere(TM), the world's only DVR with built-in Slingbox technology, allows customers to watch and control their favorite programs anytime and anywhere on their laptop or mobile device. The ViP(R) 922 features a 1 TB hard drive with up to 1,000 hours of recording time -- the largest hard drive in the industry.

Enjoy TV Everywhere(TM) in Your Home with the DISH Network WiFi Monitor

The DISH Network WiFi Monitor, a lightweight, portable, high-definition monitor developed by Sling Media, is the only free-standing monitor available today that can wirelessly transmit an HD video signal from a set-top box to anywhere in the home via a WiFi network. Designed as a companion product to the TV Everywhere Adapter and the ViP(R) 922, the WiFi Monitor offers a 16 x 9 widescreen format that displays 720p HD quality and controls all features of a connected DISH Network HD DVR receiver, including viewing live TV as well as viewing and managing DVR recordings.

Manage Your TV Everywhere(TM) with the DISH Remote Access Mobile App

DISH Network continues to lead the industry in offering fully-featured remote DVR scheduling technology. The DISH Remote Access App, compatible with most SD and HD DISH DVR receivers, is the first and only app that offers satellite TV customers complete control of their TV everywhere. Users can set and delete timers on multiple receivers; browse and search nine days of shows; and manage their DVR library by setting recording priorities, resolving recording conflicts and deleting programs they have already watched. An added bonus, the DISH Remote Access App also includes a unique feature that transforms an iPhone(TM) or iPod touch(R) into a remote control for televisions connected to compatible DISH Network receivers. Customers without an iPhone or iPod touch can still enjoy all DISH Remote Access benefits through the web browser on their PC or mobile device.

The DISH Remote Access App is now available for free for both the iPhone and iPod touch and can be downloaded from the App Store(SM). DISH Network expects to launch the TV Everywhere Adapter, the ViP(R) 922 and the WiFi Monitor in the second quarter of 2010.