Dish Hopper (Photo : http://cdn1.sbnation.com/)
Satellite TV provider Dish, formerly Dish Network, announced on Dec. 18, Wednesday that it will be allowing its customers to view videos from its rival firm as it will be integrating the Netflix app to its second-generation Hopper devices, which is its latest set-top box unit launched in February 2013.
Dish did not disclose how many of its customers have the said devices, but said that users with outdated units will need replacements units in order to avail of the Netflix feature. Additionally, a Netflix subscription worth $9 per month is required to watch videos from the Netflix app.
The deal is the streaming media provider's first deal of its kind with a major paid TV operator in the U.S., Netflix will potentially have a better reach for Dish's customers, which add up to 14 million.
Dish product management senior vice president Vivek Khemka said that the integration of Netflix and its Hopper device is a representation of a united "incredible video" experience.
Netflix has been reaching out to make deals with satellite TV, phone and cable providers to further expand its reach in the United States. In 2013, it managed to strike deals with overseas TV providers, but had problems with major American TV operators. It did, however, managed to enter into agreements with smaller U.S. operators, including Suddenlink Communications and Atlantic Broadband.
Earlier in 2014, Netflix struck a deal with cable giant Comcast, but the former accused the latter for requiring a payment to gain access to faster speeds.
Additionally, Dish is also planning to add Netflix movie and TV titles to its search function.
