New York – Dish said Monday that the second-generation of “The Hopper” whole-home HD DVR system is now available to consumers across the country.
The new Hopper, which improves and enhances the previous version of the controversial commercial-skipping HD DVR of the same name, was launched to great controversy at the recent International CES 2013, where it was retroactively awarded a 2013 CES “Best of Show” award by CEA, after the show’s official award presenting agent – CNET – refused to consider the product for accolades, citing pending litigation between CNET’s parent CBS, and Dish Network.
CBS is suing Dish over the use of its AutoHop commercial skipping feature that is now used in both versions of The Hopper.
After Dish announced it was pursuing litigation over the snub, the CEA denounced CNET’s actions, removed its official authority as a show awards selector, and pronounced the new Dish Hopper a co-winner of the CES “Best Of Show” award.
The new Hopper is also the first whole-home HD DVR to have Sling technology built in allowing viewers to watch recordings on the home-based Hopper from PCs and mobile devices connected to the Internet, virtually anywhere in the world.
The new DVR will also download content to mobile devices for viewing later without an Internet connection.
“The magic of Hopper with Sling is that it redefines how customers think about their pay-TV experience,” said Joe Clayton, Dish president and CEO. “No other provider can offer the experience that is now available to our customers anytime, anywhere.”
Dish said it will launch The Hopper with Sling using a new multimillion-dollar marketing campaign featuring Dish’s “Boston Guys” with new ads available for viewing here.
New Dish customers who subscribe to Dish’s America’s Top 200 or DishLATINO Dos programming packages or greater can receive one Hopper and up to three Joey units for free, including a standard professional installation.
The Hopper system requires a whole-home DVR fee of $10 per month and $7 per month for each Joey.
