Dish Network said it is building Google Assistant into its Hopper family of set-top receivers, allowing customers to use their voice remotes to control smart home devices, provide weather and news updates, display photos and more in the coming months.
Dish officially made the announcement at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas Tuesday (Jan. 8).
This functionality builds on Dish’s deal to integrate Google Assistant into Hopper in July, which required users to pair their Hopper with a Google Assistant device such as speakers and phones to control their TV.
“Our customers love the convenience of voice control, so we’re expanding functionality to make it even more powerful,” said Dish vice president of product management Niraj Desai in a statement. “As a Dish subscriber, you will soon get the Google Assistant and all its incredible features – like adjusting your thermostat, managing your calendar or simply asking for the latest news – for free, right on your TV.”
Customers will be able to use their voice remote to ask the Assistant questions and see answers on the screen like weather forecasts or games scores. Users will also be able to control smart home devices, such as dimming the lights or adjusting the thermostat, and relive favorite memories by pulling up Google Photos on the TV screen – all with their voice.
Customers with a Dish voice remote and broadband-connected Hopper (all generations), Joey (all models) or Wally will have access to the Google Assistant. New Dish customers receive the voice remote with all Hopper family receivers at no extra cost; current customers without a voice remote can upgrade for $20.
