Echostar 922 for Cable / Telco Providers

[Scott Greczkowski]

We have heard about the 922 for Dish Network, but it appears that the folks that make the receiver (Echostar) will also be making this receiver available for cable television providers and telco providers.

Below is the press release for this exciting product!



ECHOSTAR UNVEILS WORLD’S FIRST PLACESHIFTING HD DVR AT 2009 CES

Powerful One Terabyte High Definition DVR with Integrated Slingbox Features Radical Departure From Traditional STB by Introducing Touchpad Remote Control and Tile-based User Interface

Las Vegas, Nev., Jan. 8, 2009 – EchoStar Technologies LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS), introduced today at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show the EchoStar SlingLoaded™ 922 HD DVR, the world’s first high definition digital video recorder that incorporates Sling Media’s patented placeshifting technology.

The EchoStar 922’s unique user interface and remote control were selected as CES Innovations 2009 Design and Engineering Award honorees. Demonstrations of the 922 will be held in the Sling Media, Inc., booth and in the DISH Network Corporation booth located in the southeast corner of Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center Jan. 8-11.

The EchoStar 922 is an entertainment centerpiece combining the best of video and IP technologies into a stylish, black-chassis, set-top box displaying a capacitive-touch, backlit front bezel. By integrating Sling Media’s Slingbox technology, the EchoStar 922 allows TV aficionados 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. Accessing multiple video sources, viewers will never run out of shows to watch. The EchoStar 922 features a massive 1 terabyte hard drive for up to 1,000 hours of storage and supports connecting an external hard drive for more storage.

The EchoStar 922 is a revolutionary departure from the traditional cable or satellite set-top box. Its touchpad remote control, which eliminates half the buttons of a standard remote control, gives users cursor-like navigation on their TV screen. With a slide of the thumb, viewers experience scroll-over activation of widget-like tiles and pop-up menus, all selectable by an underside index finger trigger. These radio frequency remote controls offer two-way learning of codes from other AV equipment remote controls and can store DVR timers, favorites lists and other viewer preferences for ease of resetting or replacing equipment.

The new user interface goes beyond traditional text-based user interfaces by using movie poster graphics, tiles or widget-based menus, and cursor-type navigation for a powerful yet simplified user experience that is highly adaptable to future applications. The EchoStar 922’s menu displays integrated RSS feeds, giving viewers instant access to national news, weather, sports, and stock quotes. The 922 also organizes channels by channel name or number.

The EchoStar 922 can be controlled via the Internet using SlingGuide™, a new web-based way to control your TV viewing experience. SlingGuide features a powerful search engine for the TV and the ability to schedule the EchoStar 922 DVR timers remotely.

Other 922 features include the following:
Supports 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480i, and 480p.
Internet-delivered Video on Demand.
Users can move forward one day at a time in the guide while browsing a full or partial screen program guide.
Connect to the home network via Ethernet, HomePlug Turbo (using home power lines), or WiFi (with optional WiFi adapter).
Comprehensive search capability across all available video sources, including IP, VOD, linear TV 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).
Load photos, MP3s and selected Internet content.
Future upgrades may include photo sharing, movie ticket purchases, family calendar, instant messaging, streaming audio, and ability to transfer content within a home network.

Digital media operators, including cable, telco and satellite, can benefit from the design and engineering expertise of EchoStar and the features of its 922, including its ability to reduce operational-related customer calls while providing a platform for launching multiple customer-requested content and features beyond linear programming. Diagnostic software tools allow service providers to analyze and cater to the needs of their overall customer base, improving customer service and reducing churn.

“EchoStar and Sling’s software and hardware engineers have created one of the most powerful set-top boxes ever made, with the ability to watch television and other media anywhere in the home or anyplace in the world,” said Mark Jackson, president of EchoStar Technologies L.L.C. “Embedding the SlingLoaded suite of technologies, we’re harnessing the robust search and discovery tools we take for granted on the Internet and bringing them to the DVR. In short, SlingLoaded technologies are redefining what a set-top box is.”

EchoStar will deliver the EchoStar 922 to its first operator, DISH Network, in spring 2009 as the HD DuoDVR™ SlingLoaded™ ViP® 922, furnishing satellite TV customers with a break-through TV experience and letting DISH Network customers take their favorite shows on the road or into another room. EchoStar will also leverage the features of the 922 by announcing this spring a tru2way SlingLoaded STB for trials for the cable industry.

[jacmyoung]

It does not appear the 922 for the E* subs will get the cable channel decoding capability.

I have said a few days ago it would be nice to have the 922 at least be able to decode clear cable (QAM) HD channels and DVR them too. That can help a lot of markets where E* does not have a full local HD lineup. It will even serve the major markets well because our local cable carries many more digital locals other than the four big ones.

[Smith, P.]

They have Q-BOX, perhaps they could adapt it to normal QAM ?

[jegrant]

I would be very interested to buy this, and/or have it as an option to lease from Comcast, in lieu of the current Motorola box.

[davezatz]

I swung by the booth this evening to check the "SlingLoaded" 922 out. The new UI looks very sleek, though I didn't spend nearly enough time with it for a real evaluation. But I can tell you the touchpad remote is a bit limiting - I'd like to see some numeric buttons added prior to launch. And I wouldn't expect a cable version of this without a partner. The web-based "SlingGuide" will be made available to 622, 722, and existing 922 owners at some point which will be a nice perk. More details and a dozen pics on my site, 9 I shot and 3 are press images. And I assume Scott will be all over this in even more detail tomorrow.

zatznotfunny.com/2009-01/slingloaded-dish-vip-922-details

[cebbigh]

Any chance this might become compatible with Fios?

[Poke]

They have a picture here as well..


DISH Network(R) Introduces World's First 'SlingLoaded' HD DVR at 2009 Consumer Electronics Show: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

[Cokeswigga]

Any chance this might become compatible with Fios?

that would be a huge boost for FIOS to have a great working DVR

Things that are keeping me from using FIOS

1.) Crappy STB
2.) No UHF Remote
3.) No OTA

If they offered a 622/722/922 box, I would seriously consider switching to FIOS

[riffjim4069]

I will go out on a limb and say the VIP922C (digital cable version) will be available for distribution and support through major cable providers (kinda like Motorola, Scientific-Atlantic, Moxi), and EchoStar will release a more modest digital cable ready version for direct to consumer sales called the DVRPal DVR+. The selling price will be $299. Additionally, I predict EchoStar will sell a subsciption guide service for this device for $119.99 annually.

We shall see, but this news does not bode well for Tivo.

[riffjim4069]

that would be a huge boost for FIOS to have a great working DVR

Things that are keeping me from using FIOS

1.) Crappy STB
2.) No UHF Remote
3.) No OTA

If they offered a 622/722/922 box, I would seriously consider switching to FIOS

As I mentioned in another post...EchoStar is has licensed tru2way technology to be used with the cable version of the 922, but Verizon has said FiOS is not compatible with the tru2way open standard since it is based on cable technology. I believe Verizon is asking the FCC to intervene and adopt Ethernet/IP since tru2way is cable proprietary, according to Verizon. To be honest, I don't know enough about tru2way to understand why it can or cannot be used with FiOS...but Verizon does not appear to be willing or able to support this technology in the near furture.

Of course, if Verizon were wanting interested in purchasing 100,000 units, I am sure EchoStar would make a CableCard version.