dish

DirecTV appears to have its sights set on Slingbox with a new platform, called Nomad.

The satellite provider launched a page on its site recently, showcasing a device that connects to customers' DVRs and allows them to stream programming to other devices, including computers, smartphones and tablets.

"Take your movies and shows from your home DVR where you go," the Nomad site reads.

If DirecTV follows through with a Nomad competitor, it wouldn't be much of a surprise. EchoStar, which is closely affiliated with DirecTV's chief competitor, Dish Network, owns Sling Media. Sling made a name for itself in the home-entertainment space by offering a box that connects to any DVR and lets users control the DVR and watch TV programming from computers and mobile devices.… Read more

The allure of 4G wireless service has drawn in a number of new players, including satellite-TV provider Dish Network.

Dish applied yesterday for a waiver to the Federal Communications Commission that would allow it to use its recently acquired spectrum to build a wireless network, according to Credit Suisse analyst Jonathan Chaplin. The company plans to build a 4G LTE Advanced network, Chaplin said yesterday in a research note, adding that it has committed to a "realistic" build-out schedule.

The FCC application provides some clarity on what Dish had planned to do with a recent wave of acquisitions, … Read more

That loud snipping sound is a greater number of Americans cutting the cord and ditching their cable and satellite TV subscriptions. That's the verdict today in an analysis done by the Associated Press of the pay TV companies' quarterly earnings reports.

The AP tallied lost subscribers from eight of the top nine providers, including Comcast and Time Warner cable, Verizon, AT&T, DirecTV, and Dish Network. Cox Communications was not included because it is a private company and does not disclose subscriber numbers, but AP said it has captured 70 percent of households in its survey and found … Read more

As expected, Dish Network has had to continue to whittle down Blockbuster.

Dish, the satellite TV company, said today in a statement that it will continue to operate "more than 1,500 U.S. Blockbuster stores," but added that "despite our efforts to reach reasonable terms, some property owners have closed stores."

In April, Dish paid $320 million for Blockbuster as part of a bankruptcy auction, one of the many humiliations the once-dominant video rental company has had to suffer in recent years. Dish wouldn't say exactly how many stores would close but it could … Read more

Some Netflix customers are holding out hope that the Web's No. 1 rental service, will reverse a decision to raise prices, according to a CNET poll. Comments made last night by Netflix spokesman Steve Swasey, however, didn't sound encouraging.

"These are our prices," Swasey said when asked whether Netflix might change its mind or reduce the amount of the price increase.

An unknown number of Netflix subscribers have taken to the Web to bash the company for doing away with a hybrid price that covered the rental of streaming video and discs. Customers who used to … Read more

TiVo's revenue slid considerably in the quarter that ended April 30 while its profits scored huge gains, thanks to a recent patent settlement.

According to the DVR maker, it generated revenue in its fiscal first quarter of $45.7 million, down from the $61.3 million it tallied during the same period in 2010. However, unlike the 2010 quarter when it lost $14.2 million, TiVo secured a profit during its last-reported period of more than $139 million.

TiVo's financial performance was bolstered by its recent settlement with Dish Network and EchoStar. The companies announced earlier this month … Read more

Dish Network's incoming CEO Joe Clayton has some fighting words for Netflix, according to an Associated Press interview yesterday.

"If I were them, I'd be watching what's going on," Clayton told the AP in reference to Netflix and its streaming service. "I'd stay tuned. Because no one's going to have a monopoly on this and I'm sure it's not just our company that's looking at trying to take a small piece of the pie from Netflix."

Last month, Dish finalized its $320 million acquisition of Blockbuster, making it … Read more

After several years of litigation, the patent-infringement case that TiVo launched against Dish Network and EchoStar has come to an end.

Dish Network and EchoStar have agreed to pay TiVo $500 million to settle the case, including an upfront payment of $290 million from Dish and $10 million from EchoStar. Between 2012 and 2017, the companies will pay TiVo the remaining $200 million in equal installments. The parties also agreed to eliminate all pending litigation between them.

The battle between the companies started in 2004 when TiVo claimed EchoStar, which was Dish Network's parent company before the satellite provider … Read more

A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge today approved Dish Network's $320 million acquisition of Blockbuster, once the largest movie rental chain.

"We are pleased to have purchased the assets of Blockbuster and look forward to building on the nationally recognized Blockbuster brand while improving the experience of delivering entertainment to consumers," Tom Cullen, executive vice president for Dish Network, said in a statement.

The satellite provider announced its intention to purchase most of the rental chain's assets earlier this month at a bankruptcy court auction. Under the terms of the deal, the acquisition was expected to … Read more