Dish Integrates Alexa With Hopper DVR

Dish today announced that it’s now the first TV provider to offer direct compatibility with Amazon Alexa. This integration will enable users to watch TV hands-free with Amazon’s digital personal assistant. Starting today, Dish customers with a Hopper or Wally set-top box and an Amazon Echo, Echo Dot or Amazon Tap can use Alexa to watch TV hands-free.

“Hopper and Alexa introduce next-level convenience that redefines the way TV fits into our lives,” said Niraj Desai, the vice president of product management at Dish.

Dish’s skill for Alexa will enable users to change the channel, pause, rewind, and search for content by simply giving Alexa the relevant voice command through an Echo device. This isn’t going to work with the set-top box only, an Echo family device is required for the integration to work.

The universal search functionality works across live, recorded, and on-demand titles aside from Netflix’s library of movies and TV shows. Sample voice commands include “Alexa, search for comedies,” “Alexa, change channel to ESPN,” and “Alexa, find the Big Bang Theory.”

The Dish TV skill can be found in the Alexa app. A receiver code will be generated using the set-top box which needs to be entered into the Alexa app.

Once the set-top box is paired with the Echo device, it will be synced with the chosen receiver and then this functionality will be available to users.

Adnan Farooqui
Categories: Gadgets
Tags: Alexa, Amazon, dish