DISH Network is one of the largest satellite television service providers that have been in operation for many years in the United States, and they offer their services to customers within the country. In more recent years, however, like most other pay-tv providers, DISH has seen the value of offering satellite TV along with streaming options to counteract streaming-only subscriptions like Netflix and Hulu.
However, with all these new streaming options, many prospective and current DISH customers may be asking themselves – do I have to pay for the privilege of streaming my shows and movies via DISH Network? The short answer is yes and no. Here's a breakdown of how streaming works on DISH and what kind of fees are or are not involved:
DISH Hopper DVR
The primary DVR receiver or gateway through which one can access and record content is the Hopper. Any DISH packages that feature DVR service are bundled with a Hopper receiver. In a nutshell, if you have a satellite package from the DISH satellite service, the Hopper enables you to watch and record programming from this. It also offers video and music streaming applications such as Netflix, YouTube, Pandora, etc., in one unified interface.
Hence, if you subscribe to a basic DISH package and you have a Hopper DVR, then you are allowed to access those streaming apps free of additional charges over and above the basic package. A key feature is that streaming of apps through a Hopper does not attract any extra charges.
Through On-Demand Streaming with DISH
Also, in addition to the streaming of any third-party apps through a Hopper DVR receiver, the subscribers are given access to the DISH On Demand streaming library. This encompasses over 100,000 films and TV programs which are available for instant viewing at no additional cost.
However, you have to be a subscriber to a basic DISH channel package and have a set-top box receiver or DVR that supports streaming to freely access DISH On Demand which comes with movies, full seasons of TV shows, news clips, and much more without an extra charge. It is on this page that information is presented wherever it forms part of customers’ monthly subscription fees.
DISH Anywhere App
Mobile users of DISH can also watch their programming through laptops, iPads, and any other device through the Dish Anywhere application. It is downloadable for iPhone/iPad as well as Android built-in mobiles; DISH Anywhere enables you to watch live TV from your DISH channel pack, together with your recorded programs through DISH DVR and DISH On Demand streaming movies and TV shows too.
The DISH Anywhere app is free to download and use, and its primary function is for customers to interface with DISH. DISH Anywhere app is free to download and use, and you can access your existing DISH package and receiver set up at home and stream your subscribed channels and DVR recordings anytime and anywhere with no additional charges.
Sling TV
DISH has its own linear and on-demand streaming service called Sling TV which is separate from its satellite service. Sling TV provides service packages of live streaming channels that customers can watch through the Sling app, web interface, smart TVs, and other streaming devices. Packages start at $40/month.
The main divergence between Sling TV and the sat-reach DISH service is that Sling is a standalone streaming service. You do not require any DISH satellite dish or any other equipment to access it. Sling also has some different channels than standard DISH packages and there are also a few other differences. But it caters to the cord-cutters who are seeking cable TV replacement exclusively in the streaming domain.
Optional Add-Ons
While you can access a significant amount of streaming content on DISH for no extra fees beyond your monthly bill, there are some additional streaming options and packages you can add on for an additional monthly cost:
International Packages – DISH has streaming-only package options for programming from other countries including Filipino TV and Chinese TV for $15 per month. These allow you to watch live channels in certain languages and On Demand selections corresponding to those channels.
DISH Movie Pack - You can subscribe to this pack and you will be able to access over 5000 full-length movies from major studios all for only $10 per month and all the movies can be watched On Demand.
Satellite plus streaming combo- You can add a streaming package to your satellite service or purchase streaming programming separately as follows: Here TV ($7 per month add-on) and HDNet Movies ($10 per month add-on).
Such a premium selection is available for purchase with extra charges for streaming the content. But, in the most fundamental DISH plans, there are still a lot of streaming opportunities bundled within your base monthly price.
The Bottom Line
Although streaming services are gradually eradicating conventional paid TV services such as DISH, the latter has incorporated considerable streaming versatility into their satellite TV services without an additional premium. You will get additional perks including streaming apps on your Hopper DVR, large On Demand selections, and the DISH Anywhere app for your smartphone or tablet all free of charge. They may not have additional fees for streaming, but only the premium movie and network add-ons do. As such, streaming is mostly packaged as a fundamental part of the DISH Network programming service offerings.
Ready to upgrade your TV experience? Call us now at (877) 471-4808 to find the perfect Dish Network plan for you! Don’t miss out on great entertainment—our team is here to help you choose the best package and get you started today.