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Sean Portnoy
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Dish Network to bring live TV streaming to iPhone, iPad, Blackberry next month

By | August 5, 2010, 3:46am PDT

Summary: The next battle in the pay TV wars is being waged away from the TV. Rumors are flying that Verizon FiOS subscribers will be able to watch TV on a forthcoming tablet from Motorola, and now Dish Network is bringing live TV streaming to mobile devices for its customers. Dish’s streaming will be coming to iPads, [...]

The next battle in the pay TV wars is being waged away from the TV. Rumors are flying that Verizon FiOS subscribers will be able to watch TV on a forthcoming tablet from Motorola, and now Dish Network is bringing live TV streaming to mobile devices for its customers.

Dish’s streaming will be coming to iPads, iPhones, iPod Touches, and BlackBerry phones next month, with Android device supporting following in October. The company will be making use of Sling Media’s technology in order for subscribers to tap into their home set-top boxes. Customers can either purchase a SlingBox, or move up to Dish’s HD DVRs that feature SlingBox tech.

While Dish already has mobile apps that let you control your home set-top box remotely, these will be updated to allow for live TV. Aside from any hardware updates customers need to make, the live TV service will be available for no extra cost. One limitation with the setup is that if your DVR only has a single tuner, you’re forced to watch whatever someone is watching on your home TV. DVRs with a second tuner would allow the mobile viewer to watch something different than what someone at home is watching via the same box.

It appears likely that every pay TV service will have to offer a mobile streaming service to customers in order to stay competitive. That means watching your favorite shows on the go will graduate from a niche offering at additional cost (Flo TV anyone?) to a free add-on — as long as you’re already a subscriber.

[Via Associated Press]

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Topics

Apple iPhone, Network, Dish Network, Apple iPad, RIM BlackBerry, TV, Tv & Home Theater, Personal Technology, Sean Portnoy

Sean Portnoy is a freelance technology journalist.

Disclosure

Sean Portnoy

Sean Portnoy is a freelance technology journalist; currently, all work that Sean does is on a contractural basis. Sean has also written corporate communications documents for CA.

Sean does not accept gifts from companies he covers. All hardware products he writes about are purchased with his own funds or are review units covered under formal loan agreements and are returned after the review is complete.

Biography

Sean Portnoy

Sean Portnoy started his tech writing career at ZDNet nearly a decade ago. He then spent several years as an editor at Computer Shopper magazine, most recently serving as online executive editor. He received a B.A. from Brown University and an M.A. from the University of Southern California.

Talkback Most Recent of 9 Talkback(s)

  • This, is a dream-come-true grin I cant wait for the others to sign on board with that, and to all mobile devices (Android).

    I can finally watch all my garbage while at work.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Wodenhelm
    5th Aug 2010
  • RE: Dish Network to bring live TV streaming to iPhone, iPad, Blackberry next month
    @Wodenhelm
    Boy...you have a nice boss...
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Orkan
    6th Aug 2010
  • RE: Dish Network to bring live TV streaming to iPhone, iPad, Blackberry next month
    Hi, I think Blackberry is winning this year as the best smartphone, I suggest you check out my article and vote on the poll!

    http://www.squidoo.com/IphonevsBlackberry
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Matie1138
    5th Aug 2010
  • Is it usable?
    With so many ISPs putting such tight caps on upload bandwidth, how usable will this really be? I can see lots of "waiting..." or "buffering..." when trying to watch video that's being streamed across my home internet connection. My blackberry can download at 4x the speed at which I can upload from my cable internet.

    Perhaps they have some killer compress algorithms to make it usable?
    ZDNet Gravatar
    camattin
    5th Aug 2010
  • This will crash the network
    I can only imagine how if this gets to be popular will crash a lot of cellular networks. Maybe even a few broadband. At the very least it will cause some issues. The hardware may be ready for this. But Im not sure about our networks?
    ZDNet Gravatar
    jscott418
    5th Aug 2010
  • Why Slingbox?
    Wouldn't it make more sense to stream their channels themselves instead of having a million people streaming the exact same content? Give me a way to sign-up on a streaming only account and I'll be interested. If I could pick only the channels I want for a reasonable price I'll be more interested. Five channels for $9.99/month sounds good.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    MikeFM
    5th Aug 2010
  • RE: Dish Network to bring live TV streaming to iPhone, iPad, Blackberry next month
    Makes me happy that I didn't ditch my unlimited data iPhone plan. This might just move me off of AT&T's uVerse for video and onto Dish for a try. I just don't intend to get stuck in a contract unless I know another provider will buy me out of it if I decide that Dish's service isn't what I am looking for.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    wineaux
    5th Aug 2010
  • intvlive
    its amazing to hear,now i can watch videos and movies anywhere and anytime,thanks a lot for sharing.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    intvlive
    30th Aug 2010
  • RE: Dish Network to bring live TV streaming to iPhone, iPad, Blackberry next month
    I work for DISH Network and I purchased the Sling box for a true TV Everywhere experience. I love this device so easy to use and the ability to make a Smartphone, tablet, pc, or, laptop your TV is great. I take my Ipad with me on the road at a motel or where ever I'm going I know I will be able to watch TV. Back in January I went to Mexico and I was able to stay caught up with all my shows and my movies off my DVR. This I would suggest to everyone. This gives value and allows a consumer to maximize enjoyment on the road, park, or, just where ever.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Joe1DISH
    9th Mar

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