05/29, 1:49pm
Dish Network adds social network interactions to Hopper DVR using app
Dish Network has created a new app for its Hopper Whole-Home DVR for social networking while watching television. Social, usable from the Hopper's quick-launch bar, will allow viewers to log into and manage multiple Twitter and Facebook accounts, as well as showing a Twitter feed for the show or channel being watched at that time. A data bar at the bottom of the screen will provide more stats and information about the program, including what areas of the US are commenting about the show on Twitter, and the program's "sentiment rating."
more
01/14, 2:39pm
Reviews ban put in place over existing Dish litigation
Executives at CBS have forced CNet to remove Dish Network's Hopper from its CES awards, due to ongoing lawsuits. CNet's parent company apparently wanted the awards changed shortly after a ban on products by companies CBS was in litigation with came into effect, and forced the change on the editorial team, leading one reporter to announce their departure.
more
01/08, 1:10am
New features allow for internet streaming, in-home iPad transfer
The second generation of Dish Network's whole-home DVR system was announced today at the Consumer Electronics Show -- the Hopper with Sling. The new unit allows customers to watch live and recorded television anywhere on Internet-connected tablets with the newly-integrated Sling technology, and move recorded television to an iPad for viewing without an Internet connection using the free Hopper Transfers app.
more
11/07, 7:54pm
Judge: insufficient evidence proving Hopper DVR damaging Fox
Judge Dolly Gee of the US District Court of the Central District of California ruled today that the Dish Network ad-skipping feature and automatic recording feature found in the Hopper digital video recorder system can continue to be sold and marketed. According to the ruling, Fox Broadcasting didn't demonstrate sufficient damages from the features to justify a preliminary injunction before a full trial can take place.
more
05/24, 9:10pm
Counter-suit by Dish filed to preemptively declare skipping legal
Fox, NBCUniversal, and CBS have all filed suit independently against Dish Network over the new AutoHop service, which with the right set-top box allows viewers to automatically skip commercials, assuming the recorded content isn't watched on the day of broadcast. The broadcast networks call the DVR technology a violation of their copyrights, a danger to quality programming, and an assault on their financial ecosystem. In an effort to counter the separate legal attacks, Dish has filed a countersuit against the three, plus ABC, in an attempt to establish the legality of advertisement skipping.
more
05/10, 12:39pm
Auto Hop will skip commercials but only on recorded programs
Dish's Hopper and Joey DVR hubs have just been upgraded with a new feature called Auto Hop. It lets users automatically skip commercials on recorded shows with the press of a single button, though there are some restrictions. For example, only primetime HD programs on ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC are supported, and they need to start at 1:00AM.
more
04/19, 9:15pm
Gives subscribers access to 900,000 tracks
Earlier today, Dish Network introduced streaming music service Pandora as an enhancement to the Hopper Whole Home HD digital video recorder (DVR) system. Either a new account or an existing account can be used with the upgrade. A persistent internet connection is required to access Pandora content.
more
03/15, 4:30pm
Hub leases for $10/month with basic packages
Dish Network has reportedly begun selling its Hopper whole-home DVR system, which was first unveiled early this year at CES. The system centers around the Hopper, a set-top box that integrates a 2TB drive, and smaller 'Joey' units that serve as extenders to distribute the video throughout a home.
more
01/05, 4:55pm
Dish Network to reveal Hopper home DVR at CES
Early details on Dish Network's planned CES unveiling of a home DVR dubbed Hopper have been revealed. It will be a rebrand of EchoStar's next-generation XiP satellite whole home DVR hardware (XiP 813), which gets extender units called Joeys (XiP 110). It's said to have three tuners and a built-in 2TB hard drive.
more
