Dish Network (DISH) is trending up

DISH Network Corp. (Public, NASDAQ:DISH) is yet another company on the long list of stocks that have fallen more than 100% in the last year. DISH, which traded as high as $36.11 in 2008, is currently trading at close to $14 a share. This is after hitting a 52 week low of $8.34, and shares seem to be on the rebound.

The stock has mostly moved due to Goldman Sachs analyst Ingrid Chung pimping it out, contending that with the stock trading at 5.5x estimates 2009 EPS versus 14x for rival DirecTV (DTV), most of 2008’s bad news has been largely discounted. In 2008, the company suffered a satellite failure, the loss of its AT&T distribution deal, and unfavorable developments in its litigaiton with TiVo, among other things.  But now she sees potential catalysts ahead:

• Improvement in operations, or at least a moderation in deterioration.
• More aggressive share repurchases.
• End to TiVo litigation even if it has to pay licensing fee of $3/subscriber/month.
• Announcement of a mobile video partner.

DISH 1 year Chart:

Stockmasters, what I'm really excited about, and what could bring them in new business, is their new VIP22, which was in the top 15 hottest products at CES:

Satellite TV provider Dish Networks announced the first "Slingloaded" digital video recorder, the ViP 922, which incorporates placeshifting technology that lets you watch your DVR programming from anywhere — be it the next room, or across the world — on a laptop or mobile phone with a broadband connection.

Basically, it's a 1-Tbyte HD DVR with a built-in Slingbox. Very cool if you're a DISH subscriber!

"By integrating Sling Media's Slingbox technology into our industry-leading HD DVR, Dish Network is providing even more ways for our subscribers to view their TV programming — through their television sets, their desktops at home, their laptops on the road, and their smartphones including Blackberrys, iPhones and more," Dish Network Chairman and President Charlie Ergen said.

The high-definition ViP 922 connects to home networks via Ethernet, next-gen HomePlug Turbo Powerline networking, or Wi-Fi (which requires an optional adapter). The box offers support for resolutions up to full 1080p HD, features a multi-tuner DVR with up to 1,000 hours of recording time, and supports external hard drives.

You also get a highly customizable interface, which offers the ability to categorize programming in a number of ways like title, date, length, genre, or rating. Feeds on the home page show news, weather, and stock information. The UI, along with the bundled touchpad remote control which provides cursor-like navigation on your TV screen, were chosen as CES 2009 Innovations Design and Engineering Award nominees here at the show.

You can also program the ViP 922 using Sling's new SlingGuide, which lets you browse, search, and record programs remotely from a PC, Mac, iPhone, or iPod Touch. You can even use your iPhone or touch as a remote control to browse or search the program guide, and manage recordings right in your hand, without disturbing the picture on the TV.

Dish will offer the ViP 922 DVR to its subscribers this spring, but pricing was not announced. SlingGuide will be free for Dish customers and will also debut this spring; a limited SlingGuide Beta is available now. For more information check out the SlingGuide Web site.

You can check out the full 15 hottest products from CES here: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2338907,00.asp