Call the cable TV provider in your area, because you’re going to want broadband Internet for the upcoming “Streaming Wars”.

When Dish Network satellite TV bought the failing Blockbuster video, many wondered how Dish would turn it into a money maker.   Well, the first attempt is being made as we speak.  After Netflix announced significant price hikes to come, Dish Network saw an opportunity to grab new customers.

Netflix took its single disc/streaming video product and broke it into two products.  What was once $9.99 a month for both is now $7.99 a month per product.  Obviously, Netflix users are miffed.  Dish Network offers a one disc rental package for $9.99, but the Blockbuster package does not include streaming video.  At least not yet.
However, according to a BizJournals.com article, Dish Network satellite TV / Blockbuster video feels customers would switch from Netflix for early access to new releases and video game rentals.  The Blockbuster package is $2 more a month than the single disc package from Netflix, so only time will tell.  What’s more important, saving $2 or having access to newer new releases and video games?

It looks like Dish Network satellite TV is heading in the direction of the other satellite Internet providers.

According to a story on Multichannel, “A U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge approved Dish Network’s proposal to purchase TerreStar Networks for $1.375 billion Thursday, giving the satellite giant access to wireless spectrum for a possible broadband play.”  That looks pretty cut and dry.  Dish Network satellite TV appears to be moving into satellite Internet territory and why wouldn’t they?  People need broadband all over the world, even if cable lines can’t get to their houses.

It would appear that Dish Network satellite TV is in a bit of a tussle with Disney.

According to a story on AdWeek, Disney is suing the satellite TV provider in a Manhattan court.  The suit claims Disney is losing money by Dish Network offering free access to its movies through their current Starz network promotion.  The promotion offers free Starz programming in celebration of its 30th anniversary.

The AdWeek article goes on to publish a Dish Network statement on the matter.  In that statement, Dish Network states that it pays “hundreds of millions of dollars” to distribute Starz content.  The statement also proclaims that Dish Network isn’t involved in the contract agreements between Disney and Starz, so the company will defend its customers right to watch the content Diosh Network pays to provide.

It looks like Dish Network satellite TV will be looking to the Supreme Court for a final ruling in the Tivo DVR patent case.

To recap, back in 2004 Tivo accused the satellite TV provider of infringing on its patented “Time Warp” technology in Dish DVRs.  The Time Warp technology allows users to record one show while watching another, a trait that seems standard just a few short years later.  Regardless, in October 2010 the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ruled in favor of TiVo’s Time Warp patent.  Dish Network is now looking to appeal the decision from the Court of Appeals that reaffirmed the USPTO’s original ruling.

Tivo would likely be looking for damages and/or some form of licensing agreement with Dish Network.  In the meantime,  Dish Network has been working to simply replace the older DVRs with newer models not covered in the patent skirmish.

We’ve all seen the fall of Blockbuster video in recent months.  There have been banners reading, “Still renting!” posted on sides of stores.  Then, only weeks later, a new banner goes up reading, “Store closing”.  It’s sad.  But there may be new life for the originator of the home movie rental.  Dish Network won a bankruptcy auction for the failing entertainer. The big question on everyone’s mind seems to be, “Why?”

Why would the Dish Network satellite TV provider buy a home movie rental chain as it falls into obscurity?  There certainly seems to be no lack of speculation.  Yahoo! News even claims that Dish Network will keep the 1700 remaining Blockbuster Video stores up and running.  But how do home rental stores equate to sales for satellite TV providers?  Right now it’s anyone’s guess.  What is clear is that Dish Network’s purchase of Blockbuster Video could be a game changing play for a section of the streaming video market currently run by Netflix.

According to an article on Multichannel News, the folks at the Discovery channel are pursuing legal action against DISH Network satellite TV for sending its content over the Internet.

The issue involves DISH Network’s Slingbox enabled setup.  Using the Slingbox device, DISH Network subscribers can access their DISH Network service from pretty much anywhere, including mobile and Internet devices.  Discovery contests that DISH does not have their permission to send its content over the Internet.

The article claims Discovery is “considering the implications of the Dish technology and the appropriate manner to resolve those implications.”

The big question is, “Why?”  From the outside looking in it would appear that DISH Network was not simply sharing the Discovery content freely over the Internet.  The shows were only available to DISH Network satellite TV subscribers just as it is if those same subscribers were watching TV in their living rooms.

If you took a look at the year in Review for cable and satellite TV, this kind of action is nothing new.  Content providers and rebroadcasters have been at each other’s throats all year and there is no end in sight.  Look for more of the same in the year to come.