It used to be that, if you wanted higher performance or new features from your home theater system or HiFi rig, you'd have to throw out your old hardware and buy all new gear. In the age of hybrid computer/CE gear where everything is network-enabled and firmware updates can be delivered nearly instantaneously, this is no longer the case. Now you can get all new functionality and enhanced performance just by clicking a few buttons.
Case in point, Sony's PS3 has evolved from a pretty good Blu-ray Disc player when it was first released to one that offers more features and better performance than even some of the latest standalone Blu-ray players. And DISH Network has provided some great new features such as external hard drive support and IPTV functionality, via painless satellite downloads to the box.
Now DISH is poised to break new ground with its offering of Full HD 1080p high definition content over existing satellite receiver boxes. As long as a customer's box supports the MPEG4 codec (DVRs such as their ViP622 and ViP722 do support the codec), customers will be able to watch certain high definition movies and content in the highest of high definition resolutions, 1080p (1920x1080 pixels progressive) as early as August 1st. It will take some time to get this upgrade out to everyone, but DISH expects the system upgrade to be available to all customers by the middle of the month. Customers must subscribe to one of DISH Network's "TurboHD" packages in order to be eligible. TurboHD plans start at $24.99/month (or $29.99/month with local HD channels). Existing customers can retro-fit the TurboHD capability onto existing HD subscriptions for $10/month.
DISH Network's ViP722 DVR will soon support 1080p output from its HDMI jack thanks to a system-wide upgrade
DISH Network will also launch 17 new national HD channels tomorrow, which it claims will bring their total national HD channel offering to well over the 100 they promised by the end of 2008. DISH plans to expand that line-up to 150 channels by the end of 2008, thanks to the recent launch of Echo XI, the latest bird in the company's satellite fleet.
To celebrate the launch of Turbo HD, DISH Network is offering subscribers the option of watching "I Am Legend" (VOD) in full 1080p resolution starting on August 1st.
New HD channels being offered on August 1st include: ActionMax HD (DISH Network Ch. 313), CBS College Sports HD (Ch. 152), Lifetime HD (Ch. 108), Lifetime Movie Network HD (Ch. 109), Planet Green HD (Ch. 194), Encore HD (Ch. 340), HBO 2 HD (Ch. 301), HBO Comedy HD (Ch. 307), HBO Family HD (Ch. 305), HBO Latino HD (Ch. 309), HBO Signature HD (Ch. 302), HBO West HD (Ch. 303), HBO Zone HD (Ch. 308), Starz Comedy HD (Ch. 354), Starz Edge HD (Ch. 352), Starz Kids & Family HD (Ch. 356), and Starz West HD (Ch. 351).
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