Career Training career school

satellite tv providers Dish upgrades Hopper to stream TV anywhere

Dishs sister company, EchoStar Communications, acquired Sling Media, which developed the technology, in 2007 for $380 million. Dish and EchoStar are controlled by billionaire Charlie Ergen.

The start screen for Dish Explorer app for the iPad is displayed at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

Analysts at the time said Dish was using its Hopper DVR to fight retransmission fees, which are payments cable and satellite companies pay to broadcast stations to carry their networks.

Satellite television provider Dish on Monday unveiled the latest version of its controversial digital video recording device,Online Education.Education Information. dubbed the Hopper, with new features such as the ability to stream live TV and recorded programs outside the home.

But these TV Everywhere services have not been widely adopted by consumers largely because the offerings are limited. Not all channels can be viewed on mobile devices and only a few networks can be streamed live, depending on specific agreements. Time Warner, which has the HBO GO app is considered a rare success.

The updated Hopper also features an app that allows customers to transfer saved TV programs to an Apple iPad so they can accessatellite tv providers Dish upgrades Hopper to stream TV anywheres shows on planes, subways or other areas where Internet access is unavailable. Such a transfer can only occur once.

If you get it at home, its here (on the Hopper). Any channel on the guide is available, or anything youve DVR-ed, Khemka, the Dish executive, said.

The autohop feature is also available on the new Hopper,legal advice online. which Dish touted as being twice as st as the last one.

Vivek Khemka, vice president of product management at Dish, said that the updated Hopper lls within ir-use policy and does not violate copyrights.

We believe this is consumer initiated. The consumer is choosing to watch their content, so its well within the ir use policy, Khemka said.

Announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the updated Hopper uses sling technology that redirects a live or recorded TV signal from the set-top box to Internet-connected devices. That means that Dish subscribers with the new version can watch live TV wherever their mobile device or computer has Internet access.

Embroiled in a legal battle with the major broadcast networks over the DVRs first iteration, Dish could engender a new round of lawsuits with its updated version, Hopper with Sling.

All Dish channels ranging from ESPN to premium channels such as HBO or Showtime are available for live viewing on devices other than the TV. Subscribers can also watch any recorded programs that are saved on their DVR.

Watching TV over the Internet on mobile devices or computers through a pay TV provider is not new. In ct its part of an industry effort dubbed TV Everywhere thats aimed at stopping consumers from cutting the cord in vor of cheaper online services such as Netflix or streaming on Amazon.com.

Dish, the nations second-largest satellite television provider with 14 million subscribers, is using the new Hopper as a way to attract customers to its service. The company plans to give it away to new customers who sign up for a two-year contract. The price for existing Dish customers will be revealed later.

Dish CEO Joe Clayton said that consumer behavior of watching Internet video is not going away and Dish needs to adapt as the pay TV market shrinks.

Dish last year introduced DVRs with an autohop function that allows subscribers to skip commercials when they are watching recorded shows, drawing the ire of broadcast network television owners including CBS and News Corp.s Fox.

When Cablevision Systems Corp. released a similar app in 2011 that allowed for streaming in the home, it was sued by Viacom for violating its contract with the programmer. The case settled in August 2011.

With Hopper, the value equation for pay TV becomes radically different. Customers pay only once for their content and can access it anywhere they choose, in the home, or on the go, he said.

satellite tv providers CES 2013 Dish adds Sling to Hopper DVR

The original Hopper (unveiled at last years CES) maximized TV viewers ability to time-shift programming, essentially turning the four major networks prime-time lineup into on-demand programming (albeit for a week at a time). The new version adds two place-shifting features. Dish Anywhere enables customers to connect remotely to their Hopper in order to stream live or recorded programs to a laptop or tablet computer. And the Hopper Transfers app enables them to shift recorded programs onto an iPad, effectively turning the tablet into a mobile companion for the DVR.

Comments are filtered for language and registration is required. The Times makes no guarantee of comments ctual accuracy. Readers may report inappropriate comments by clicking the Report Abuse link next to a comment. Here are the full legal terms you agree to by using this comment form.

Healey writes editorials for The Times. Follow him on Twitter @jcahealey

Satellite TV provider Dish Network is doubling down on its legally edgy bet on a powerful new digital video recorder.

The company had already from those four networks, which claimed that the Hoppers automatic recording (dubbed PrimeTime Anytime) and commercial-skipping capabilities (AutoHop) infringed copyrights and violated the contracts they had signed with Dish. The second-generation model pokes another stick into that hornets nest, education books although in a way calibrated to stay within the confines of copyright law.

CES 2013: Worlds first big-screen OLED TV coming to the U.S. in March

Meanwhile, the proliferation of tablet computers has increased the demand for place-shifting, Khemka said. The initial audience for Sling was largely laptop-toting travelers eager to watch the sports and cable channels they subscribed to at home. Today, however, more than half the Sling usage is by customers in their own homes, Khemka said. The reason is, people find places to watch TV that in the past they couldnt because they just didnt have it, he explained, such as the bathroom, the garage or the porch. And the more tablets there are in homes, 1 Wikipedia the free encyclopedia the more that kind of usage will grow.

FULL COVERAGE: CES 2013

The integration of Sling into the Hopper means the device can now stream one channel over the Internet while a different channel is playing on the home TV -- something not possible with a separate Sling device. That also helps with in-home use.

An iPad displays programs copied from a Dish Network Hopper DVR through the new Hopper Transfers app. )

ALSO:CES 2013: Drawing on creativity without touching your tablet

But then, Sling has never been offered inside a Hopper before.

CES 2013: Smart forks and spoons aimed at curbing weight gain

Dish customers already could access their Hopper remotely with the help of an external adapter made by Sling, a company that Dish bought in 2007. The new Hopper has the Sling technology built in. In ct, according to Vivek Khemka, Dishs vice president of product management, advancements in chip technology made it possible to integrate Slings technology directly into the Hoppers main microprocessor.

Hollywood and the consumer-electronics industry have long fought over the limits of consumers rights to record and reuse TV programs, and unlike time-shifting gear, theres no definitive Supreme Court decision in vor of place-shifting devices. Khemka said Dishs Hopper Transfers app complies with the studios restrictions on copying, which for certain shows means deleting the copy on a DVR when a new copy is made on an iPad. He also notes that the Hopper enables people to stream only one program to one screen at a time, which fits the U.S. Copyright Offices definition of a private use that doesnt violate public performance rights.

At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Monday, Dish announced an updated Hopper DVR that not only can record a full week of prime-time programming from the four major broadcast networks, but also can stream shows to remote viewers through the Internet and transfer recordings to an iPad for viewing offline.

Sling has bsatellite tv providers CES 2013 Dish adds Sling to Hopper DVReen out in the market for over five years now, and we have been selling boxes that support the Sling technology for over two years, Khemka said. We have not had any programmer issues on Sling.

It remains to be seen how the Hoppers new capabilities affect Dishs legal battles with Hollywood. The satellite service fended off one studios bid for a temporary restraining order against the Hopper last year in Los Angeles, board838.typepad.com but ces a similar challenge from another studio in New York.

Five years since the great recession engulfed the world, the impact is clear. Millions of middle-class jobs have vanished. Experts now fear those jobs are lost for good - killed by sophisticated technology and smarter software. (Jan. 23)

Watch TV Online satellite tv providers

Dallas is the classic CBS prime-time soap opera that brought us into the lives of a rich Texas mily named the Ewings. The Ewings gained their wealth through the oil and cattle-ranching industries, revolving around...

Featuring the extended, unedited interview! - MIT professor Missy Cummings discusses the NOVA program Rise of the Drones.

From Emily Spivey and Lorne Michaels, this comedy offers a contemporary take on parenthood about successful PR executive,costmotology adult school in long beach....

The Moto: Inside The Outdoors has the worlds top motocross racers come together for the grueling 12-race AMA Outdoor Motocross Championship Series to battle the heat, the tracks and each other. These are just a few...

Ethan Newberry Likes You is a YouTube channel from comedian Ethan Newberry. With over six million views and a ranking in the...

The Big C is a television series on Showtime starring Laura Linney as Cathy Jamison, a woman who gets a cancer diagnosis and...

Happy Endings is a comedic tv series from ABC about a group of friends who become conflicted when the couple at their core...

Its time for an evening with Morgan; Chuck, Ellie and Sarah are invited. The evening will have three acts: A take-out dinner of sizzling shrimp...

The Borgias is the Showtime historical fiction TV series which is based on the lives of the inmous Borgia mily. Showtime...

We love fishing! We love everything about it. We love the anglers, the tackle, the ns,world education. the die-hards, the weekend warriors,...

Thanks for checking out Clicker for the iPad! Weve scoured the Web for broadcast quality content that is viewable on the iPad. We will continue to add new sources as they make their video content iPad compatible.

Sexy Nerd Girl is a fictional web series that follows Valerie Lapomme (Hannah Spear), a 23-year-old woman who is into sci-fi,...

Out of Egypt is a Discovery Channel series that delves into the minds of cultures of the past. The series is hosted by UCLA Professor of Egyptian Art and Architecture Dr. Kara Cooney who searches for the...

The PBA was established in 1958 when 33 charter members banded together to form the Professional Bowlers Association. Today,...

Star Trek: Voyager is the fourth live-action science fiction series in the Star Trek franchise. Voyager contains all the top-notch sci-fi writing that Star trek is known for, wrapped up in an intense plot that leads...

Nurse Jackie is the Showtime dramatic dark comedy about emergency room nurse Jackie Peyton (Edie Falco). Jackie is a...

While investigating an anomaly at an estate, the team stumble across the wedding of ex-ARC member Jenny Lewis. Things go to plan until Matt and...

Searching For The Most Effective 2013 Graduation Tassels

satellite tv providers Satellite TV Providers

We will be offering up to date news on paid television services that will keep you connected to the top national promotions of satellite providers across the USA.

Now with great features such as DVR, On Demand, and an HD lineup, a satellite provider may be your top source for a cost-effective digital TV solution.

Paid television services are becoming more and more advanced as time goes on. Consumers have numerous choices in the marketplace, and satellite providers offer cutting edge TV technology at appealing prices. Satellite service in your home often includes features such as DVRs, On Demand, and an HD lineup. It is a cost effice way to have top entertainment in your home.

Finding great promotions from a major satellite provider has never been easatellite tv providers Satellite TV Providerssier, and an online search is more rapid than the days of searching through offline directories for television companies. It is now possible to find out what TV services are available at your specific address and to order online. The option of being able to subscribe to services online is an advantage to consumers and helps them connect with satellite providers offering special pricing for their service area.

The benefits of satellite television to your home entertainment experience are many, education news and it can transform a lackluster mily room into a digital entertainment powerhouse.

Use our website to identify the latest top promotions for television services and, when you have found the satellite option that is right for you, you can order offline or by phone. Promotions are changing frequently, so if you have not found the TV offer that you are looking for, children education stop back soon to see if that offer has been updated and displayed. A satellite provider will have different packages and prices throughout the year and, even as technology changes, craigslist indianapolis super bowl bartender so may the services and features.

Begin exploring what satellite TV has to offer and the different services and specials that are available for your home.

redOrbit satellite tv providers

Source: Peter Suciu for redOrbit.com Your Universe Online

Last year, Hopper delivered the Dish TV experience to multiple rooms. This year, we top that and deliver it anywhere, said Joseph P. Clayong, Dish president and CEO. With Hopper, the value of equation for pay TV becomes radically different. Customers pay only once for their content and can access it anywhere they choose, in the home, or on the go.

Dishs Hopper with Sling includes built-in Wi-Fi and is powered by a Broadcom 7452 processor that, according to the company, will run nearly three-times ster than any other satellite set top box. The pricing and availability of the Hopper with Sling will be announced later this month.

The Sling place-shifting technology utilizes a Sling Adapter accessory for select Dish DVR models, including the original Hopper Whole-Home HD DVR.

The Hopper with Sling offers the promise of what the company calls unparalleled choice and control, at home or on the go. This second generation of the award-winning Whole-Home HD DVR system allows users to watch live and recorded television anywhere via an Internet-connected tablet, smartphone or PC. This functionality will be available to Dish subscribers at no additional charge using the Hoppers new built-in Sling capabilities and the new Dish Anywhere app.

The Sling technology is now built into each new Hopper with Sling and will work by encoding and redirecting a live or recorded TV signal from the Hopper to Internet-connected iOS and Android tablets and smartphones. Whereas the DVR technology created the concept of time shifting, the Hopper with Sling now could evoke the concept of place-shifting of a users content.

Peter Suciu for redOrbit.com Your Universe Online

And this year it really could be about the on the go.

The Hopper Transfer will also allow for place-shifting of content where there is no Internet connectivity, such as on an airplane during flight. The Hopper Transfer app lets viewers move recorded TV content from a Dish DVR to an iPad and watch the recorded content without the need to connect online. The transfer of course needs to be completed in advance.

Additionally Dish announced Dish Explorer, a second-screen app for the Apple iPad that will combine TV, social media and remote control capabilities. This free app will enable users to engage in conversations relating to the show theyre watching via social media services including Facebook and Twitter. With the Dish explorer it sounds like TV ns can dish about their shows as well.

How the networks will respond is yet to be seen, but in the past there has been a backlash.

At this weeks 2013 International CES,How You Can Improve Literacy And Fundamental Education In Pittsburgh. Local schools fire private security firm with convicted felons as guards pa school systems satellite TV provider Dish Network announced an updated Hopper DVR that will not only record a full week of prime-time programming from the four major broadcast networks, but that subscribers will also be able to stream content to remote viewers through the Internet.redOrbit satellite tv providers

Customers want to access the shows they pay for on their mobile devices and only the Hopper meets that demand, board743.typepad.com said Vivek Khemka, vice president of product management at Dish. Our new Hopper with Sling simply makes it easier for our subscribers to watch their vorite programs on the go.

This is because Dish customers can use the Sling feature to watch DVR recordings stored on Hoppers hard drive, including major network shows recording using the Dish PrimeTime Anytime feature. Both the live and recorded TV programs will be available for viewing in the home as well on devices whilst on the go.

We always stand with the consumer. That means sometimes well have lawsuits, Dish CEO Joe Clayton told the San Jose Mercury News in an interview ahead of the show.

Topics:Technology Internet, Multi-touch, smartphones, Computing, XM Satellite Radio, iOS, DISH Network, Input/output, Arapahoe County, Colorado, Technology, iPad

The service will also allow users to turn their TVs into a home media hub with the ability to play games via a multi-player gaming apps and the ability to fling content including photos, videos and music from a mobile device. New Hopper apps will also provide support for music services such as Pandora and SiriusXM, as well as multi-screen, multi-player game apps such as Trivia TV and Poker Fun, and these will work with in combination with smartphones and tablets.

Aereo to offer streaming on-air TV to Twin Cities? satellite tv providers

Chet Kanojia, founder and CEO of Aereo Inc., stands next to a server array of antennas as he holds an antenna between his fingers in New York. Aereo is one of several start-ups created to deliver traditioAereo to offer streaming on-air TV to Twin Cities? satellite tv providersnal media over the Internet without licensing agreements. (Associated Press: Bebeto Matthews)

In decades past, Twin Cities residents got their television fixes via trusty antennas mounted on their rooftops or placed atop TV sets. Over-the-air TV reception got an overhaul in recent years with digital channels in high definition for those with the right gear, 2013-1-27 上午 6:35:44 and at no cost. Now, the rabbit-ear revolution here is about to undergo another significant change. A service called Aereo will soon save you the hassle of setting up an antenna, instead using one of its own elsewhere in the country and feeding the TV transmissions to you over the Internet for a modest fee. Aereo, now offering its service in New York City, has announced it will expand to the Twin Cities and 21 other U.S. markets in the spring. This will give metro-area residents an alternative to sometimes-finicky over-the-air reception, or the basic-cable equivalent from the likes of Comcast. At $8 a month and up, Aereo is potentially alluring for those who need only a modest selection of channels (including the major networks) with decent video quality and the option to save shows DVR-style for later viewing. But Aereo will have scant appeal for those who crave a broad selection of channels, including HBO and Showtime, A Brand New Idea Of Studying By On-Line Classes from a cable or satellite-TV provider. With average monthly pay-TV bills exceeding $75, though, Aereo is positioning itself as a lower-cost alternative for spendthrifts. It is particularly relevant to cord cutters who want to ditch their cable or satellite service

and watch their shows online and to younger people Aereo calls cord nevers who have never had pay-TV service. Aereo users get 20 hours of DVR capacity for $8 a month or 40 hours for $12 a month. The fee drops to less than $7 a month if paid for a year in advance. Day passes costing $1 provide 24 hours of viewing, three hours of DVR space and 10 days to watch recordings. One continuous hour of viewing is free. Aereo works on computers, online education tablets and smartphones as well as on TVs using video-streaming add-on boxes from Apple or Roku. Aereo makes the most sense for those who have broadband Internet access at home or 4G wireless-data access on mobile devices. Aereo takes an oddball approach to basic-TV service. It describes its antennas as unbelievably small, so small it fits on the tip of your finger. This allows it to set up vast numbers of the antennas, with each assigned to a single subscriber. TV transmissions detected by the antenna are sent to that subscriber over the Internet, the physical location of the antenna or distance from the user irrelevant. (Aero has been setting up its antennas in New York Citys Brooklyn borough.) The company has proved controversial. Aereo, backed by media mogul Barry Diller, has been seen as toxic to traditional broadcasters who hauled it into court on copyright grounds. A recent federal court ruling tentatively endorsed its legality,Siliguri Holds Best Schools In North Bengal. prompting its just-announced expansion. Associated Press reports were used in this story.

satellite tv providers First commercial skipping and now Dish Network aims for a true TV anywhere experience

The worlds thinnest watch the anti-Pebble has now raised over $500K on Kickstarter

Business prof: Apple still in an extraordinarily strong position despite disappointing results

Much like the Slingbox 500, the Hopper with Sling will let Dish subscribers stream both live television channels and watch saved shows on their DVR. (Right now you can access the TV Anywhere feature via iOS devices and through the web, but Im assuming support for Android devices will come in the near future.) The box has built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth support,Jan 27, 2013 4:34:09 AM. a remote control finder,February 2 2013. and the stest processor available from any satellite TV provider box, according to the company. As for storage, the Hopper with Sling contains a two-terabyte hard drive, which equals about 500 hours of HD video or 2,000 hours of standard definition video.

GamesBeat is your source for gaming news and reviews. But its also home to the best articles from gamers, developers, college education and other folks outside of the traditional press. Register or log in to join our community of writers. You can even make a few bucks publishing stories here! Learn more.

Other cable providers are starting to come around to the idea that their subscribers want more for their money, but thus r, have been slow to offer anything remotely close to what Dish is doing with the Hopper Sling box. For instance, Time Warner Cable recently announced a new TWC TV app on Roku set-top boxes that essentially brings live TV channels to the streaming web, but doesnt offer DVR playback or the ability to watch content anywhere. Even more backwards are cable providers like Comcast, who refuses to allow its customers to use services like HBO Go (except for on Xbox Live), even after authenticating that they pay for a HBO package as a Comcast subscriber.

The VentureBeat MediaBeat section provides news about innovation in digital media for forward-thinking executives. It covers search, search-engine optimization, content rms, blogs, and online media; the convergence of offline and online advertising; the impact of mobile devices like smartphones, superphones, and tablets; the networking of the living room from video-game consoles to set-top boxes to Apple TV, Google TV; and the emergence of social media as a key media distribution channel, from Twitter to Facebook to Tumblr. Media companies which VentureBeat tracks include Google, Yahoo, Amazon.com, Microsoft and its Windows Live services and Bing search engine, Netflix, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, LinkedIn, Gawker Media, Demand Media, and The Huffington Post.

The push to make Dish a TV anywhere experience is part of the companys strategy to be the only pay TV service that actually gives customers what theyre asking for, said Dish CEO and President Joseph Clayton at a press event today. I managed to catch the live stream of Dishs presentation, which included several references by Clayton about this being the year of the Kangaroo.

At last years CES event,Education Allow You To Live Your Existence Individually. the company tackled a different major complain about traditional pay TV subscription by allowing customers to skip over long-winded commercial breaks on all recorded programs via the Hopper feature on its DVR TV boxes. This year, the company is improving the Hopper box by partnering with Sling Media, a company that produces its own line of devices enabling consumers to live stream their cable TV service when away from home.

Photo credit: Dish Network, CNET

Jobs and Woz to visit MacWorld 2013, along with will.i.am and NASAs Curiosity team

Dishs plan addresses one of the biggest complains people have about the often expensive traditional TV subscriptions: you cant use it if you leave home. This is contrary to many of the much less costly services like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Prime, which allow its respective subscribers to access the entire streaming video services from a variety of mobile devices, smart TVs, and set-top boxes.

Satellite television provider Dish Network unveiled its plans today to let subscribers start using the Dish TV service beyond the boundaries of their home.

Another cool thing the box does is allow you to send shows recorded on your DVR to your iPad, which can be downloaded for offline viewing. The feature should come in handy for anyone who travels often, and doesnt want the added expense of renting or buying a movie to download beforehand. And while not exactly new among TV service providers, Dish is also launching sesatellite tv providers First commercial skipping and now Dish Network aims for a true TV anywhere experiencecond-screen apps to help people discover new content on their smartphones and tablets.

WebFerret satellite tv providers

A new, modern look. Vista users will especially appreciate the high-res icons and Aero Glass intece.

Get comprehensive results from multiple search engines and search the Web ster using WeWebFerret satellite tv providersbFerret search software.

China Education Center education in china School Franchise Possibilities In Madhya Pradesh online education aduedu1675.typepad.com

satellite tv providers Scrappy Dish wows again at CES with TV anywhere push

The announcements further cement Dishs position as one of the leaders when it cosatellite tv providers Scrappy Dish wows again at CES with TV anywhere pushmes to the principle of TV Everywhere, or the idea that your vorite shows and movies can be accessed from any device at any location. Dishs take is called TV Anywhere, which it believes is superior to the competition.

Dish customers do have reason to be excited. By integrating Hopper with the beloved Sling technology, consumers can access their programs on their digital video recorder from multiple devices. Its Hopper Transfer feature is a godsend for anyone who goes on flights or endures long underground subway commutes -- it allows users to move shows on their DVR to an iPad for later offline viewing. Its Dish Anywhere app for Apple and Android devices turns smartphones, tablets, or computers into a portable TV.

The satellite company has been aggressive in rolling out features and services for its customers because its under pressure to do so. It has long played second fiddle to larger rival DirecTV,shunli2762.typepad.com. board1754.typepad.com and it competes against deep-pocketed cable and telecom competitors. But where Dish once simply catered to low-end customers with its more attractively priced packages, its recent push to offer more features illustrates its desire to nab the more technically savvy and the gadget enthusiast crowd.

CEO Joe Clayton didnt just walk onto stage -- he hustled up and danced in the style of Blues Brothers alongside kangaroo mascot Hopper, and then rapped about his digital video recorder. Few executives at the Consumer Electronics Show would ever attempt such an entrance.

And for the second year in a row, the satellite TV provider is at CES in a big way. Last years Hopper whole-home HD DVR made a splash with a pretty nifty box that included commercial-skipping technology that irked those in the entertainment business. This year, Dish is stepping up the capabilities of the Hopper by allowing its customers to move programs onto the iPad and access Dish programming remotely though the Web or mobile devices.

Dish, however, wants to simplify things by giving its subscribers access to DVR programs or live TV remotely to iOS and Android devices.

Since 2006 CNET has presented the Best of CES Awards given to the top products as well as one coveted Best of Show Award. See the nominated products for this year, and vote for the Peoples Voice winner starting Wed., Jan. 9, right after finalists are announced. ,satellite tv providers Scrappy Dish wows again at CES with TV anywhere push.

For the second year in a row, the satellite TV provider has an impressive product to show off. But can it execute on such lofty ideas?

For two years, Dish has gotten the attention of CES and show attendees. The company is hoping that excitement may eventually trickle down to consumers looking for a solid video experience. CEO Clayton has demonstrated that he and the company are game for anything.

Dish CEO Joe Clayton at the CES 2013 press conference with his Blues Brothers shades.

The TV Everywhere experience is either broken or very confusing, Vivek Khemka, head of product management, said about rival pay-TV offerings. They either require additional hardware, have limited access, or require different apps, Khemka added.

Dishs AutoHop feature, which allows consumers to skip over commercials, also ced legal threat by several of the networks, including CBS, which is the parent company of CNET. But in this case, Dish scored a victory when a federal judge denied Foxs attempt to get an injunction to ban the feature, studio guillerme torres obras claiming copyright infringement and breach of contract.

Clayton framed the dispute as necessary to protect consumers interest at a time when programming costs have risen.

LAS VEGAS--You have to hand it Dish Network -- the company knows how to impress.

Dish was also embroiled in a dispute with AMC that kept the popular cable network off the air for its customers for roughly three months -- a real problem because AMCs The Walking Dead was a ratings blockbuster that Dish subscribers were unable to tune into. Dish and AMC struck a deal to get the channel back on in the beginning of November.

Dish also isnt a stranger to execution issues. The company has had a rocky history with growth, and in the third quarter, lost a net 19,000 subscribers. That was, however, better than the net 111,000 subscribers that left the service a year ago. In comparison, rival DirecTV added 67,000 subscribers, although that was only a fifth of the customers it added a year ago.

Features like AutoHop and Hopper with Sling are the practical and useful advantages that Dish needs if its going to compete against DirecTV, edu723616.typepad.com telecom companies, and cable providers.

Roger ChengRoger Cheng is an executive editor for CNET News. Prior to this, he was on the telecommunications beat and wrote for Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal for nearly a decade. Hes a devoted Trojan alum and Los Angeles Lakers n.

Despite showing off promising features, Dish has had some hiccups with deployment. After its debut and some positive early reaction, the Hopper and its accompanying Joey boxes for different rooms required multiple software updates -- its because of those ongoing issues that CNET hasnt yet posted a review.