The Dish Network Slingbox DVR may be just the what the company needs in order to regain ground against DIRECTV.
Introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this past January, the Slingbox HD DVR device will officially be called the ViP922. Many Dish Network customers have been waiting for something of this sort, ever since Dish Network purchased Slingbox back in 2007.
The Slingbox digital video recorder will allow subscribers access to all of their saved content through a variety of media devices. Internet enabled devices such as laptop computers, iPhones, Blackberry units, and other smart phones will be able to play back content from the ViP922. The current Slingbox models can only play live television on internet enabled devices.
With the Dish Network ViP 922, the DVR will be “Slingloaded.” Often referred to as place shifting technology, Dish Network is envisioning the customer watching content in a variety of places and settings. But do customers really want to watch TV in places other than their living room?
That is a difficult question to answer, but for now it seems most people are not clamoring to watch TV on their computers or cell phones. It may be nice if your stuck in an airport or at a hotel room out of town, but for most people the day to day use of Slingbox technology is limited.
Dish Network is betting that Slingbox technology will go mainstream in the next few years, and that people will want access to their TV sets at all times. The new Dish Network Slingbox does boast a number of bells and wistles that will certainly attract both the technology geek and the average consumer. Found among the ViP 922 feature list:
-Satellite, Broadband and Over the Air (OTA) Tuners
-1 Terabyte internal hard drive, capable of saving up to 1,000 hours of content
-Upgraded touchpad remote control
-Web based Sling Guide to control the ViP922 from the internet
-Connections to internet via Ethernet, Wifi, or HomePlug Turbo (Home power line connection)
-RSS Internet News feeds on home screen allowing access to news, weather and sports
-Ability to load MP3 and photos for home entertainment sharing
-Supports 1080p HD resolution
Subscribers can also connect external hard drives in order to save even more content. While the Dish Network Slingbox DVR will probably be a top of the line device, will it be enough to stop the subscriber losses that have mounted up during the past three quarters?
Probably not.
Customers continue to flock to DIRECTV and to a lesser extent AT&T U-verse and Verizon Fios for a couple of reasons. With DIRECTV, its premium content. DIRECTV continues to draw in customers with their NFL Sunday Ticket package, and with their HD content. While Dish Network has caught up in the HD channel count, the perception is out there that DIRECTV is still the HD leader.
With Verizon Fios and AT&T U-Verse, it’s the convenience factor. Customers can triple play bundle their voice, internet and cable TV service in many areas now with these telecom companies. The same holds true for Comcast and Time Warner cable. The convenience factor makes it difficult for Dish Network to make a play for many of these customers.
Overall, the Dish Network Slingbox offers just about anything to anyone, making it a formidable competitor to TiVo. Things should get interesting later this year as the ViP922 comes on the market, and will be competing against TiVo in many cases. DIRECTV inked a new deal to distribute TiVo devices once again in 2009, though there will probably be an additional monthly service fee to customers who select the TiVO device over DIRECTV’s own in-house DVR.
While exact pricing has not been released on the ViP922 Slingbox, expect it to be deeply discounted to lure in new subscribers for Dish Network.
You might also enjoy...
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for the article, interesting to see any product competing with TiVo, this shows it must be worthwile when you can compare it to the likes of that.
I really very happy when i know about Dish Network Slingbox because it’s installation so easy and very simple.
The following statement is very misleading in 3rd paragraph: ” The current Slingbox models can only play live television on internet enabled devices.” I have one of the first models of slingbox attached to my Tivo and it works great even with my Treo Windows Mobile smartphone.