ViP211® and ViP211k® DVR Conversion Feature Now Available to Customers

[Scott Greczkowski]

DISH Network’s Award-Winning ViP211® and ViP211k® DVR Conversion Feature Now Available to Customers

Original HD Receiver Can Convert to DVR with External Hard Drive

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Nov. 11, 2008 – DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH), the third largest pay-TV provider and digital television leader, today announced its award-winning ViP211® and ViP211k® DVR Conversion feature will be available at the end of the month. The DVR Conversion feature offers customers the ability to convert their single tuner ViP211® and ViP211k® into DVRs by attaching an external hard drive.

The DVR Conversion feature is an ideal option for current ViP211® or ViP211k® customers who want to experience all the benefits of DISH Network’s feature-rich DVRs with the simple addition of an off-the-shelf external hard drive.

“As a leader in high definition, DISH Network continues to expand its HD solutions for our customers, including finding innovative ways to take our existing technology to the next level,” said Jessica Insalaco, Chief Marketing Officer for DISH Network. “Now customers ready to add in the benefits of DVR recording to their HD receiver can do so with ease, simply by plugging in an off-the-shelf external hard drive.”

ViP211® or ViP211k® customers must call DISH Network to activate the DVR feature. Once activated, customers need to connect an off-the-shelf external hard drive between 50 GB and 750 GB. Customers can then access DVR menus similar to other award-winning DVR features, including name-based recording and search-based timer capabilities. Other features include a nine-day electronic programming guide, DVR functionality on both the satellite tuner and built-in OTA tuner, record and review conflict management, VOD capability, and the ability to play back a stored program while recording or watching another.

The DVR Conversion feature – engineered by DISH Network’s technology provider, EchoStar Technologies LLC, an award-winning digital media leader in set-top box design and deployment – was honored with an International CES Innovations Design and Engineering Award earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Customers pay a one-time activation fee of $39.99 to enjoy the DVR feature. More information on the ViP211® or ViP211k® DVR Conversion feature will be available toward the end of the month at DISH Network - 1.888.825.2557.

 

[RandallA]

The 211s are getting new software today.

 

[Skyhi]

So after the $40 fee, customers will not have to pay the monthly DVR fee?

 

[wassupTC]

Is this feature available on the VIP222 already? or SOON?

And I echo the question of the 'Skyhi', will this new DVR faeture incur an additional DVR fee?


With all of the baloney that Dish does with their programming and lack thereof, they are way ahead of the curve on technology/hardware.

It makes it difficult to leave...but not impossible.

 

[wolfjc]

So after the $40 fee, customers will not have to pay the monthly DVR fee?

I would not bet my children on that.

 

[jerryez]

Is it now available or at the end of the month as the announcement states?

 

[steve4810]

Scott,

Any confirmation on the rumor that 211 EHDs can't be shared with 722s?

Hemway posted this from email he got from dish CSRs:

I finally got a response to the emails I've been sending to Dish Support regarding the IR TV2 Converter and the DVR function for the 211....


I asked them about fees and the ability to move the EHD between a 211 and a 622/722 and they came back with 'The 211 will have this software available; however, this will be a separate fee and you will not be able to share the information between a 622 and 211. These are two separate types of EHD functionality, an EHD Archive (622, 722, 722) and EHD DVR (211, 211k). Since these EHD’s would serve different purposes they would be reformatted if used between receivers and the recordings would be lost. If you had 2 211’s those could share one EHD.'

Not that I'd ever doubt the word of a CSR but is this true, as far as you know?

And what would anybody care to guess as to selling one of the "EHD fee paid" 211s to another subscriber? Would the new owner have to pay again?

(Like I don't know what the answer to this will be. )

 

[KAB]

So after the $40 fee, customers will not have to pay the monthly DVR fee?

You will still pay DVR fee.

 

[KAB]

Scott, If I recall, these 211 EHDs will NOT work with the 622/722?

 

[hemway]

The response I posted came from two different sources, from Dish technical support and from someone in the CEO office.

I was also told by one source that the 222 would not be getting this function and by the other that it would but no date was know.

If they ever do come out with this feature for the 222 they'll have 'another' activation fee for that series of receiver.

 

[cj43]

You will still pay DVR fee.

How much will this monthly DVR fee be? This could be a deal breaker.

 

[RandallA]

How much will this monthly DVR fee be? This could be a deal breaker.

Probably the same $5.98 DVR fee for the other receivers.

 

[cj43]

Probably the same $5.98 DVR fee for the other receivers.

I hope not. They are pretty much shooting themselves in the foot if they charge that for a single tuner DVR. Not to mention the cost of the hard drive, enclosure and $40 enabling fee.

 

[Smith P.]

Dish always try to get more from your packets; if you remember a history of DVR [PVR] fee, you should know models 501 and 508 doesn't have it, while SAME PVR510 ( just bigger disk ) incur it, because Dish one day out of blue decide to do that. May be that time they realized - using TiVo patent it will come to pay royalty fee.

 

[RandallA]

I hope I'm wrong too but Dish Network has become the new pig in town with all these "because we can" fees.

 

[KAB]

How much will this monthly DVR fee be? This could be a deal breaker.

With DVR Advantage, one DVR fee included, as well as locals.

 

[eddieras]

With DVR Advantage, one DVR fee included, as well as locals.

would this apply when you already have the 722 and add the 211?

 

[KAB]

would this apply when you already have the 722 and add the 211?

Yes, it would cover the 722.

 

[eddieras]

thanks! what's the recommended EHD for this application then? i just bought a maxtor for my 722, but i have the sleep problems.

 

[dennispap]

Is it now available or at the end of the month as the announcement states?

Yes i am confused also.
The title says it is available NOW, but the article says
AT THE END OF THE MONTH.
I hope this wasnt some "official" press release.