DISH, Sharper Image Launch ITV Channel

By Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 2/2/2005

Englewood, Colo. — EchoStar and Sharper Image have entered into an agreement to produce “the nation's first interactive shopping channel” for distribution over the DISH satellite TV network.

DISH will air the new channel beginning in February, giving viewers the ability to shop for and purchase selected Sharper Image products using their remote control.

Viewers will access an interactive Sharper Image catalog through DISH Home, located at channel 100, and choose the items that they wish to buy, then pay for them with secure credit-card ordering. The process is said to be similar to making online purchases.

“The possibilities are endless with DISH Network's interactive TV channels," said Susan Arnold, DISH Network’s programming VP. “The Sharper Image ITV channel is a natural addition to DISH Network's growing suite of 26 interactive TV channels, allowing more than 10 million DISH Network customers to choose new ways to enhance their home entertainment experience.”

The Sharper Image channel will let viewers browse through featured best-selling products, visit customer service, see their order history, view products in their shopping basket and, with a phone-line connection to their receiver, make their purchase.

DISH said it currently has more than 10 million subscribers with ITV-enabled satellite TV receivers.

The Sharper Image channel will be powered by OpenTV's ITV middleware technology. DISH Network customers with the following OpenTV-enabled receivers can use their remote controls to access DISH Home interactive TV : Model 3900, Model 4900, DISH 111, DISH 301, DISH 501, DISH 508, DISH Player-DVR 510 and DISH Player-DVR 522.