Coming off a hectic two weeks of broadcast retransmission negotiations, the Dish Network (NASDAQ: DISH) had some happy news to announce Thursday night about upgrading its user experience.
A new software update for its Hopper DVR will allow users who join a program in-progress to skip back to the beginning of the show, so long as the content resides in Dish's VOD library.
Dish also integrated a new feature that enables binge watching: When a subscriber finishes watching a series episode on linear TV or VOD, a pop-up window will allow them to easily transition to the subsequent installment, provided its recorded in their DVR or exists in the Dish VOD catalog.
Finally, Dish engineers have figured out a way for viewers to decipher hard-to-hear dialog by using closed-captioning. Traditionally, using captioning required an abrupt halt to the show to visit the user settings. But with new Hopper feature, all a user has to do to trigger a one-time closed-captioning usage is push a green button on their remote.
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Dish's Hopper upgrade features a pop-up selection that appears after recording a series episode. (Source: Dish Network) |
For more:
- read this Dish Network blog post
- read this Engadget story
Related links:
Dish's new deal with CBS prohibits use of AutoHop DVR feature
Dish 'Primetime Anytime' doesn't infringe on broadcasters, judge tentatively rules
Dish redesigns 'Anywhere' app: more image-based, Netflixier