Gizmodo Australia » dish

TiVo’s $US400m Payday From Echostar And Dish Upheld In Court

Brian Barrett — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:30:27 +0000

TiVo might be dying on the vine, but at the rate they’re racking up lawsuit wins they may survive yet. TiVo’s stock skyrocketed after a federal court shot down Echostar and Dish’s recent appeal. Possibly next: Dish DVR shutdowns.

This decision upholds last fall’s ruling that found Dish in contempt for not cancelling their patent-infringing DVR service. The total damages add up to $US400 million, plus attorneys fees.

Dish and Echostar have been appealing to keep their DVR services up and running, though now that they’ve lost at the federal level that’ll be difficult to sort out. They’re asking for a Federal Circuit review, though, and plan to propose a workaround that will keep their DVRs functioning, according to the following statement, all of which would at least delay the end of their DVR services:

“We are disappointed in the Federal Circuit’s split decision, but are pleased that Judge Rader agreed with our position. Therefore, we will be seeking en banc review by the full Federal Circuit. We also will be proposing a new design-around to the district court for approval. At this time, our DVR customers are not impacted.”

Still, though, they’re dangerously close to having the plug pulled.

Meanwhile, TiVo’s stock got a boost from the announcement that was degrees of magnitude greater than the Street’s reaction to Tuesday’s TiVo Premiere announcement. But hey: when you’ve got patents, who needs products?

[Zatz Not Funny]

Dish Needs To Pay TiVo Another $200 Million

Jason Chen — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 23:30:00 +0000

To punish Dish for not complying with an order to basically stop being a DVR service, a US District Judge ordered them to pay about $US200 million to TiVo, whose patents were infringed.

What’s even funnier was that Dish had ads saying that its DVR service was “better than TiVo”, an incredibly ballsy move when a court ruled that you’ve stolen technology from the party you’re claiming to be better than. [Bloomberg]

Dish Network ViP 922 Terabyte HD-DVR Comes SlingLoaded

John Mahoney — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 04:56:29 +0000

Dish Network has had Sling integrations before, but they just dropped a brand new HD-DVR with remove Sling capabilities built in along with a redesigned SlingGuide interface.

If you have Dish network (are they any of you out there?), the ViP 922 will let you schedule, manage and view your recordings (and plenty of ‘em on the 1TB drive) from any web-connected machine; there’s also a nifty new touchpad remove for when you’re at home. Could have used that for Top Chef tonight–no Bravo at the Wynn. WTF??

It’s available via your friendly Dish service man come Spring 2009 for an undisclosed sum.

DISH NETWORK® INTRODUCES WORLD’S FIRST
“SLINGLOADED” HD DVR AT 2009 CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW

New 1 Terabyte High Definition DVR with Integrated Slingbox, Touchpad Remote Control and Tile-based User Interface

Las Vegas, Nev., Jan. 8, 2009 – DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH), the nation’s third largest pay-TV provider and the digital transition leader, today unveiled the world’s first
SlingLoaded™ HD DuoDVR™, the award-winning ViP® 922. The ViP® 922 is the first high definition digital video recorder that incorporates placeshifting technology.

The ViP® 922 was built by EchoStar Technologies L.L.C., a wholly-owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS), and developed for DISH Network as an entertainment centerpiece that – combined with the only 1080p Video on Demand and 100 percent, all-HD suite of programming packages available today – will revolutionize the way consumers watch and enjoy their favourite programming. DISH Network will offer the ViP® 922 to customers in Spring 2009.

“DISH Network is pleased to add another award-winning product to our suite of MPEG-4 HD DVR ViP receivers: a groundbreaking set top box that offers consumers the true experience of TV everywhere,” said DISH Network Chairman, CEO and President Charlie Ergen. “By integrating Sling Media’s Slingbox technology into our industry-leading HD DVR, DISH Network is providing even more ways for our subscribers to view their TV programming – through their television sets, their desktops at home, their laptops on the road, and their smartphones including Blackberrys, iPhones and more.”

The ViP® 922 allows TV enthusiasts to watch and control their favourite TV shows and sporting events from anywhere in the world via a broadband Internet connection on their laptop or mobile phone. With five video sources, including satellite, broadband and optional over-the-air tuners, viewers will never run out of shows to watch. The ViP® 922 also features a multi-tuner DVR with up to 1,000 hours of recording time and supports connecting external hard drives for even more storage capacity.

An innovative touchpad remote control accompanies the ViP® 922, which eliminates half the buttons of a standard remote control and provides cursor-like navigation on a TV screen. With a slide of the thumb, viewers experience scroll-over activation of the new user interface: on-screen widget-like tiles and pop-up menus. All features are selectable by an underside index finger trigger selection on the radio frequency-controlled remote, which offers two-way learning of codes from other AV equipment remote controls.

The ViP® 922 can also be controlled using SlingGuide™, a new way for consumers to control their TV viewing experience over the Internet. SlingGuide features a powerful search engine for the TV along with the ability to schedule the ViP® 922 DVR timers remotely.

Other ViP® 922 features include:
• News feeds located on the home screen, giving viewers instant access to national news, weather, sports, and stock quotes.
• Ability to organize channels by channel name or number.
• 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480i and 480p support.
• Internet-delivered DISH On Demand including 1080p content.
• Ability to move one day in the guide while browsing full screen EPG or partial EPG.
• Connections to home networks via Ethernet, HomePlug Turbo (the next generation of HomePlug that allows for faster in-home transfer of content using home power lines), or WiFi (with optional WiFi adapter).
• Powerful search capability across all available video sources, including IP, VOD, satellite or DVR.
• Intuitive timer creation and DVR management, allowing users to categorize programming by groups (video source, title, genres) or by content description (date, length, ratings and more).
• Ability to load photos, MP3s and selected Internet content.
• Future upgrades such as photo sharing, movie ticket purchases, family calendars, instant messaging, streaming audio, and the ability to transfer content within a home network.

EchoStar’s new user interface and remote control for the ViP® 922 were selected as CES Innovations 2009 Design and Engineering Award honorees. Demonstrations of the ViP® 922 will be available at DISH Network’s Booth No. 14438, located in the Central Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Centre, Jan. 8-11. For more information about DISH Network, visit www.dishnetwork.com or call 1-800-333-DISH (3474).

Dish Network 1080p Compared to Blu-ray 1080p (Verdict: Not Bad)

Mark Wilson — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:10:00 +0000

At face value, “1080p high definition” means 1920×1080 pixels presented progressive scan (all at once). But if a clip is 1080p that alone doesn’t necessitate that it will look good. Just as you can stretch a thumbnail in Photoshop to any gargantuan size you like, so too can content providers give you ugly 1080p.

So when Dish Network announced premium 1080p VOD that they compared to Blu-ray quality, we were more than a little sceptical. Sound & Vision was as well, which is exactly why they sat down with a Dish and Blu-ray version of Speed Racer to compare:

DISH 1080p immediately impressed me. Speed Racer’s brilliant colours and intricate details looked fantastic whether I was watching the satellite or the disc. Flipping back and forth between the two sources while sitting at a normal viewing distance, I could detect only subtle differences. In fact, I couldn’t be sure I was seeing any difference at all…From the way-too-intimate viewing distance of about 4 feet, I started to notice a subtle graininess in the DISH 1080p picture, especially in scenes of slow, steady motion…but the fact that there wasn’t a substantial difference in picture quality between the satellite and the disc bodes well for DISH’s new service.

So in other words, there’s a difference between Blu-ray and Dish Network, but it’s a pretty small one. So what’s the catch? Only exclusive Dish VOD looks this good—most of their 1080p leaves a lot to be desired—and there won’t be much of this premium content any time soon.

Still, it’s good to see content providers step it up and provide 1080p content worthy of its reputation. [Sound & Vision]

AT&T to Dump Dish Network, Start Selling DirecTV

Matt Buchanan — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 21:10:36 +0000

After punting their agreement with Dish Network to sell satellite as part of a triple play package, AT&T has decided to settle down with DirecTV. They’ll keep hawking Dish through Jan. 31, after which they’ll offer DirecTV anywhere they can’t give you U-Verse as a TV option. Multichannel notes that this leaves second-place Dish without a major reseller partner, so not great news for them. [Multichannel]

Dish Network Will Broadcast in 1080p, Streaming Blu-ray Quality Video Now Possible (But Unlikely)

Benny Goldman — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:00:00 +0000

Dish Network is upgrading their boxes’ firmware to display 1080p resolution. Given the lack of 1080p network source material, the existing 720p/1080i compressed HD signals, and the fact that there’s no standard limiting the compression quality–1080p can be compressed to crap like any other picture–it’s tough to believe this is going to be really useful for consumers. But maybe we are mistaken, because the company actually thinks that their 1080p quality is on par with Blu-ray discs:

Starting August 1, the recent blockbuster “I Am Legend” starring Will Smith will be available in Blu-ray™ disc quality 1080p resolution, only on DISH Network’s VOD service, DISH On Demand, at a discounted price.

Yes. Dish Network is actually promising I Am Legend in “Blu-ray™ disc quality 1080p resolution” over Video on Demand. Presumably streamed in real time, it would be a technological feat even if not part of normal programming. And while we bet Dish will make the image look as good as possible under the pressure to show off, whether or not it’s truly as stunning as a Blu-ray disc or meets some minimum 1080p prerequisite is yet to be seen.

In other news, Dish Network is soldiering on with their promise of 150 HD channels by the end of the year, and tomorrow will add 17 must-see HDTV channels including Lifetime Movie Network HD and Starz Edge HD. Read the presser for all the details. [Dish]

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – July 31, 2008 – DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) today set the bar for the next-generation HD standard by becoming the first in the pay-TV industry to offer high definition programming in 1080p, the highest and best HD resolution available.

This new functionality is part of DISH Network’s latest and unprecedented expansion in HD services, which includes the rollout of TurboHD, the industry’s first 100 percent, all-HD suite of programming packages. As previously announced, DISH Network will also launch 17 more national HD channels tomorrow, surpassing its goal of reaching 100 national HD channels five months ahead of schedule. DISH Network now plans to nearly double its national HD channel count in less than one year and offer up to 150 national HD channels by the end of 2008, made possible by the recent launch of Echo XI, the most powerful satellite in the company’s fleet.

“Over the years, DISH Network has maintained a very competitive HD offering in the marketplace, providing customers with a premium HD product including the best technology, signal and experience – at the best value – that no other pay-TV provider can come close to matching,” said Charlie Ergen, Chairman, CEO and President of DISH Network. “Our latest system upgrade coupled with the introduction of TurboHD further strengthens our position as the leader in digital television and high definition television, platforms we look forward to enhancing even more with mobile and portable options.”

DISH Network’s new HD services are supported by a proprietary “turbo-charged” system upgrade that, starting August 1, is being rolled out to all MPEG-4 HD and HD DVR receivers. The upgrade activates a unique feature of the set-top boxes, improving the current standard of HD delivery used by pay-TV providers such as the ability to output 1080p programming. By early August, all DISH Network customers with MPEG-4 HD and HD DVR receivers will have the only set-top boxes in the nation enabled to display 1080p content, allowing them to maximize the full potential of their 1080p-compatible HDTV sets.

To celebrate this new era in the HD viewing experience, DISH Network is offering subscribers a special deal in August to enjoy the unparalleled picture and sound of 1080p HD programming. Starting August 1, the recent blockbuster “I Am Legend” starring Will Smith will be available in Blu-ray™ disc quality 1080p resolution, only on DISH Network’s VOD service, DISH On Demand, at a discounted price. Subscribers may order the movie on DISH Network Channel 501. This marks the first time in history a pay-TV provider offers movies in 1080p, the highest resolution format available for HD video enthusiasts.

Consumers can sign up for the best HD programming and service in the industry with DISH Network’s new TurboHD programming packages, the only all-HD packages on the market, starting at $24.99 per month. TurboHD is available in three separate tiers and includes DISH Network’s award-winning and industry-leading HD technology, advanced equipment enabled to display 1080p programming, and the most-watched HD channels that may be viewed on any TV – analogue, digital or HD.

Current DISH Network customers with MPEG-4 HD and HD DVR receivers are being automatically upgraded and will have their systems “turbo-charged” by early August with all the features and benefits of TurboHD. DISH Network customers looking to add the industry’s best HD experience can get a “turbo-charged” HD package for as little as $10 more per month.

The latest national HD channels added to DISH Network’s programming line-up are: ActionMax HD (DISH Network Ch. 313), CBS College Sports HD (Ch. 152), Lifetime HD (Ch. 108), Lifetime Movie Network HD (Ch. 109), Planet Green HD (Ch. 194), Encore HD (Ch. 340), HBO 2 HD (Ch. 301), HBO Comedy HD (Ch. 307), HBO Family HD (Ch. 305), HBO Latino HD (Ch. 309), HBO Signature HD (Ch. 302), HBO West HD (Ch. 303), HBO Zone HD (Ch. 308), Starz Comedy HD (Ch. 354), Starz Edge HD (Ch. 352), Starz Kids & Family HD (Ch. 356), Starz West HD (Ch. 351).

For more information about DISH Network’s 1080p programming, new HD channels and TurboHD system and packages, visit www.dishnetwork.com or call 1-800-333-DISH (3474).

New Dish Network Satellite Launched, More HD Channels On the Way

Matt Buchanan — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:30:00 +0000

In order to offer more HD channels, satellite providers need more satellites. So happy day for Dish Network subscribers, their EchoStar XI satellite was successfully launched this morning after a satellite propelled into space last March didn’t reach the right orbit. This’ll let Dish add 17 new HD channels shortly, bringing them up to 100. DirecTV says they’ll have over 150 by the end of the year, though Dish’s upcoming all-HD TurboHD package could wind up being a better deal if history is any guide. [Reuters]

AT&T Dumping Dish TV (Is Satellite Screwed?)

Matt Buchanan — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:55:00 +0000

AT&T is nixing the agreement they’ve had with Dish TV since 2003 to sell their satellite TV service as part of a triple play bundle with internet and voice. Some are speculating it’s because AT&T is simply down on satellite TV (it’s got its own U-verse IPTV thing after all), but more likely it’s pitting Dish and DirecTV against each other in a bidding war, since U-verse deployment ain’t exactly a runaway train speed-wise. So, realistically, you could see AT&T hawking DirecTV instead of Dish next year, which would be a blow to to the latter, since they’re already little number two. But maybe AT&T will be super ballsy and push off satellite altogether. [Info Week]

New Dish Network 722s HD DVR Has Built-In Slingbox and Slingcatcher

Matt Buchanan — Mon, 19 May 2008 00:23:00 +0000

At their Team Summit Retailer Conference over the weekend, Dish Network pulled back the curtain on a new flavour their latest HD DVR, the 722s. It’s got a built-in Slingbox, plus Clip + Sling and Slingcatcher functionality to boot. The pile of whip cream on that box of synergy awesomeness is a brand new HD UI; a built-in, Yahooified browser; and a new remote with a touchpad and trigger. There’s some other minor Dish stuff happening at the link too, if you’re interested, but this new box is the headliner—all that and a can of Buffalo Pringles. [Multichannel via Zatz Not Funny]

News Corp. Hires Hacker to Break Into Dish Satellite Network, Steal Security Codes for Pirate Cards

Matt Buchanan — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:30:00 +0000

This is classic corporate espionage/sabotage at its finest. Dish Network is accusing News Corp.—which used to have a 39 percent stake in DirecTV and still provides its security tech—of hiring hacker Christopher Tarnovsky to break into Dish’s network, steal the security codes, and use them to make pirated cards to flood the black market. It sounds insane, but Tarnovsky admitted in court he was paid James Bond villain style, with US$20,000 cash payments mailed from Canada hidden inside “electronic devices.”

He says that he was just hired to write pirate programs to make DirecTV’s own network more secure, but one of his projects for News Corp., the “stinger,” can talk to any smart card in the world. Another hacker claims that he bragged about using the stinger with News Corps.’s people to reprogram a bunch of Dish’s cards, but Tarnovsky claims he’s being set up to take the fall.

Dish says the hack attack has cost them over US$900 million. Either way, this whole thing is some serious material for a TNT movie of the week. [Reuters via Valleywag]