DISH Network's ViP 922 and SlingGuide unveiled: first "SlingLoaded" HD DVR
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 favorite 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 favorite 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 Center, Jan. 8-11. For more information about DISH Network, visit www.dishnetwork.com or call 1-800-333-DISH (3474).
Sling Media introduces SlingGuide: Redefining Search and Discovery for Satellite, Cable and Terrestrial Broadcast Programming
With powerful browse and search to add recordings, smart DVR space management and complete recording priority control, SlingGuide unlocks the power of your DVR from anywhere – on your PC, Mac or iPhone.
Las Vegas - International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) - January 8, 2008 - Sling Media, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS), today introduced SlingGuide, a new web-based way to easily find, watch and record your favorite television programming from anywhere. SlingGuide allows consumers to browse, search and record programs on their DVR from any PC, Macintosh or compatible mobile phone. In addition, if the DVR is SlingLoaded™ or has a Slingbox™ connected to it, consumers can also watch live or recorded programs off their DVR through a web-based version of the SlingPlayer software that is integrated into SlingGuide. SlingGuide will be available first to DISH Network subscribers when it launches in spring of 2009. For more information, go to http://www.slingmedia.com/go/slingguide.
"SlingGuide revolutionizes the way we search and discover traditional TV programming from satellite, cable and terrestrial broadcasts," said Blake Krikorian, co-founder and CEO of Sling Media. "As avid couch potatoes, we were frustrated with the existing methods for finding what to watch and record from our satellite and cable TV sources. Meanwhile, for the much larger universe of Internet-based content, we were able to enjoy amazingly quick, easy and precise search tools. 'What regional sports station is that ball game on? Why does it take me so many steps to set a recording for a show on next week?' In other words, why can't I simply 'Google' my TV? SlingGuide, our answer to this frustration, makes it easy for you to find, watch and record the programming that matters most – from anywhere."
For DISH Network customers with select DVRs, SlingGuide will provide a personal, integrated and centralized view of everything you want to watch or record on DISH Network including programming from hundreds of channels, thousands of programming choices, and even internet video from Sling.com.
The following is a list of DISH Network DVRS that are expected to be compatible with SlingGuide at launch.*
HD DuoDVRTM SlingLoadedTM ViP® 922 (Just Announced)
DuoDVR™ ViP® 722k
DuoDVR™ ViP® 722
DuoDVR™ ViP® 622
*Receivers require a broadband network connection to use SlingGuide.
Beyond the Grid
Current program guides on your TV can limit a consumer's view of what is really available to watch at present and in the future. For that reason, consumers watch only a handful of channels or programs at most. SlingGuide's powerful search technology makes it easy to watch and discover new programming you may never have known existed using the power of your PC, Mac or mobile phone. With SlingGuide you can search for shows by title, genre, network, keyword or actor.
A Better Remote Control
Using the web browser on an iPhone or iPod Touch, DISH Network customers can put the power of SlingGuide in the palm of their hand. Sitting in front of the TV, SlingGuide turns your iPhone or iPod Touch into an intelligent remote control capable of quickly browsing and searching the program guide, scheduling and managing DVR recordings, and more. SlingGuide on the iPhone or iPod Touch works with the DISH Network DVR to do this all in the background without disturbing the television picture displayed on the TV.
SlingLoaded or Slingbox-Enabled
While a Slingbox is not required to enjoy SlingGuide, those customers who have a Slingbox connected to one of the supported DISH Network DVRs or are lucky enough to be one of the first to enjoy the DISH Network HD DuoDVRTM SlingLoadedTM ViP® 922, SlingGuide also gives you the ability to watch live TV or DVR recordings on your PC, Mac or compatible mobile phone, around the home or around the world.
SlingGuide Features at a Glance
∑ Personalized, integrated view of everything you want to watch or record in a simple visual interface on your PC, Mac or iPhone/iPod Touch
∑ All the features of your DVR's remote control plus the seamless ability to browse, record or watch from anywhere.
∑ Watch your shows anywhere (with a SlingLoaded DVR or Slingbox attached)
∑ Discover new programming you never knew you had
∑ Easy, comprehensive search instead of your old remote control
∑ One click to record
∑ Search and record shows from your iPhone or iPod Touch
∑ Integration with Sling.com for clips, trailers, etc. of your favorite shows
Pricing and Availability
SlingGuide will be free to DISH Network subscribers who have a network-connected, compatible DVR. Sling Media will make SlingGuide available to DISH Network customers in spring of 2009. A limited beta of SlingGuide is already under way. For an opportunity to participate in the beta program, go to www.slingmedia.com/slingguide.
About Sling Media
Sling Media, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS), is a leading digital lifestyle company offering consumer services and products that are a natural extension of today's digital way of life. Sling Media's product family includes the internationally acclaimed, Emmy award-winning Slingbox™ that allows consumers to watch and control their living room television shows at any time, from any location, using PCs, Macs, PDAs and smartphones and the revolutionary new SlingCatcher™, a universal media player that seamlessly delivers broadcast TV, Internet video and personal content to the TV. Sling Media is also the company behind the video entertainment web site, Sling.com, offering consumers a wide variety of popular TV shows, movies and other entertainment free for viewing online or on the TV using SlingCatcher. For more information on Sling Media, the Slingbox or the SlingCatcher, visit www.slingmedia.com. To watch your favorite TV shows and movies, check out www.sling.com.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
gr689 @ Jan 8th 2009 12:55AM
WAY TO GO DISH!!! This thing is SWEEEETT!!
Starkenator @ Jan 8th 2009 12:55AM
This is the best news I have heard so far from CES. These new features may convince me to stick with Dish longer than I was planning. Now we just need Dish tuners for Media Center.
DJ Jenkins @ Jan 8th 2009 1:34AM
This is legit. This makes me feel that Dish is leading the way in pioneering and not just hanging out behind DirectTV. It makes me happy to be a Dish customer. Here's hoping that upgrading doesn't cost an arm and leg!
jp45 @ Jan 8th 2009 2:23AM
Dish: Hello thank you for calling Dish Network.
Me: Yes I would like the new VIP922 HD DVR.
Dish: Just one minute sir our computers are running a little slow tonight.
Me: OK
Dish: Ok Sir I can set you up with that now. All I need you to do is agree to a 10 year service agreement.
Me: F#$% Off!
jp23 @ Jan 8th 2009 2:24AM
Fast Forward 3 weeks
Dish: Thank you for calling Dish Network How may I help you.
Me: Uh Yeah my VIP922 keeps having audio drop out problems.
Dish: Just one minute sir our computers are running a little slow tonight.
Me: OK
(5 minutes later)
Click dial tone.
Me: Rinse, Repeat.
dishtech @ Feb 23rd 2009 8:37PM
Man DISH NETWORK is by far the best satellite company i had directv HD and i go rid of it due to the directc dvr sucks I got me the VIP-612 receiver from dish HD-DVR with an xternal hardrive and works beutifull. i will defitnetly get the 922 SLINGDOU CANT WAIT.
Jon @ Jan 8th 2009 1:56AM
One more reason I hate the fact that I'm forced to use Comcrap in my apartment building. I want my Dish back!
Patrick Speer @ Jan 8th 2009 2:31AM
You, under FCC law have the right to put a Satellite on a "area that you have exclusive use" I.E a Balcony or Patio
Just to let you know :)
kcmurphy88 @ Jan 8th 2009 3:00AM
Not to mention that the FCC outlawed exclusive cable-apartment-house deals in 2007. Of course, if your apartment doesn't have a southern exposure you might still be SOL.
Jon @ Jan 9th 2009 7:39AM
Yeah, I should have included that I don't have a southern exposure. What I do have is a lease that expires in five months.
kcmurphy88 @ Jan 8th 2009 3:03AM
This looks pretty nice, but there's still the TiVo suit, which still looks bad for Dish. Dish still has to _prove_ they aren't infringing, or needs to pay off TiVo.
img eL @ Jan 8th 2009 6:12AM
Is there atsc tuners on this b*tch?
cb @ Jan 8th 2009 9:53AM
Hmm, I am considering getting Dish TurboHD Bronze because I only watch locals, espn (1&2), food network, history and travel. I am really interested in how much this will cost. I wonder if they will charge something like $5/month for sling like they do for DVR...
titolajko @ Jan 8th 2009 10:04AM
My question is this. Will this DVR be dual HD DVR, meaning that if I have two HDTVs can I just use this receiver for both of them. I mean control and watch at the same time ( just like vip 622 but have HD on both instead of one HD and one SD (Stone Age) feed. I hate having two receivers to do the same thing.
DishGuy @ Jan 14th 2009 8:59AM
Tito, this is unlikely. Here's the issue that any company is going to have wt having a dual HD receiver. TV2 HDMI/YPbPr cabling spanning (at times) 50-100 feet through odd spaces. Currently, not feasible/responsible/intelligent/cost effective. The only thing that could change this would be for Dish to launch a 2nd tv Coax adapter that would allow the original Coax to go to TV2 in the home, run an HDMI/comp cable from that converter box into the television like an RF modulator for HD. Again we're talking about cost issues and how would connectivity work. Would the DVR set top box have wireless or wired connectivity with the main recvr/ etc; There are a whole host of issues that I can see with this idea although I can tell you that people are working on this exact issue.
Bill @ Jan 8th 2009 11:46AM
Damn that looks sweet. Please don't make it cost an arm and a leg, so I can talk my wife into getting one.
The Williams @ Jan 8th 2009 12:24PM
The biggest seller on this box is the tb of internal storage and the new remote, but im sure the price is going to outweigh the value.. I cant see this box being affordable because its just too neat and innovative.
DishGuy @ Jan 14th 2009 9:20AM
It's a niche market. Dish has taken a calculated risk in making this receiver which will not be cost effective for the company either. They'll be taking a hit on these receivers even if they price them at 1000$ to buy. "Affordable" should not be used in a sentence when you're speaking of cutting edge technology in its infancy. The first versions are always more expensive. This does finally allow dish customers to use wireless connectivity though. I'm sure a lot of dish nuts are going to be going crazy for this receiver but it won't be the majority. I would be willing to bet a version of Paretos 80/20 rule will be in action when this hits the shelves. That is to say, 20% of the customer base is going to generate 80% of the profit. The other 80% are the people who have continuous problems addressing their remotes properly and keeping their kids from unplugging the HDMI cables every few days and blame the equipment for their lack of knowledge about it.
smarce7797 @ Jan 8th 2009 6:33PM
False advertising? Ive used the sling box for about two years and know that mobile is currently not avalible on the iphone hell they just got blackberry support. Is apple finally gonna cut the cords and let sling player make their iphone a must have? If the pics are true this finally give me a reason to get on the bandwagon and get an iphone
TJunk @ Jan 8th 2009 3:39PM
Too bad I'm stuck with friggin' comcast. Boo!
Treythalomew @ Jan 8th 2009 4:37PM
I hope this will be able to run two HDTV's. My parents bought a new hdtv for their bedroom and had no idea that they wouldn't be able to get a dvr that would output in HD for both of them. So they are stuck watching through s-video on their brand new tv in their bedroom.
DishGuy @ Jan 14th 2009 9:20AM
Your parents are lying to you. There's not one single Dish set top box that has a TV2 S-Video port. Especially not any of the Dual Tuner receivers. 222, 622, 722, Et al have Coax/Composite (RCA) cable outputs for TV2 locations. Read my statement for Tito as to why a company would choose against said idea.
RWK @ Jan 8th 2009 5:19PM
It is not supposed to come out until 2010. That is what I was told by someone at Dish. OUCH
JP23 @ Jan 8th 2009 8:42PM
You people must really hate the truth.
I have a 622 and been with Dish for a few years but you can't deny the audio problems with the 622/722 series.
DishGuy @ Jan 14th 2009 9:19AM
Customer specific. I've been with Dish going on 14 years. I own 2 722's 1 622 and now a 222k. I don't have issues with my equipment. Whenever I do have issues, they resolve them. If you've had the receiver replaced, people out to your home to solve issues etc; Consider the idea that it may very well be something in the equipment that was not altered. That is to say, if everything in a setting is static except the equipment of one company, have you considered the idea that possible low quality cabling (which you provide) could be the issue? Possible your surround sound set up, television etc;? It's easy to be cynical of a company. In my estimation, being that I've been a happy customer with only a few minor glitches in my path, it seems fair to analyze the entire situation before bad mouthing an entire company.
Tim @ Jan 12th 2009 2:33AM
back in the spring Dish Network sent a guy over to replace my receiver for a "better" one. Anyways I asked the guy why isn't there any HD DVR's that have HD output to both tv's not just one and he said " It's impossible to have HD output to both tv's from a single receiver." I still have no idea why that is.
Then again the current ones are rather large and I still only have one HDTV in my house. Anyways I think I might get this one for the slingbox, and use my current one as a replacement for the old standard one for the bedroom's. Now only if t could play Netflix online and come with a blu-ray disc drive. :P
DishGuy @ Jan 14th 2009 9:19AM
Here's the issue that any company is going to have wt having a dual HD receiver. TV2 HDMI/YPbPr cabling spanning (at times) 50-100 feet through odd spaces. Currently, not feasible/responsible/intelligent/cost effective. The only thing that could change this would be for Dish to launch a 2nd tv Coax adapter that would allow the original Coax to go to TV2 in the home, run an HDMI/comp cable from that converter box into the television like an RF modulator for HD. Again we're talking about cost issues and how would connectivity work. Would the DVR set top box have wireless or wired connectivity with the main recvr/ etc; There are a whole host of issues that I can see with this idea although I can tell you that people are working on this exact issue.
I also wouldn't hold my breath for the Blu-Ray. Dish had a JVC VCR/Set top box at one point. That was an utter failure on the part of JVC and the R&D. No reason to add in more factors that can cause system failure, more heat and a more costly installation.