Dish Network Limits Ad-Skipping

Dish Network has signed an agreement with Disney that will limit the ability of customers to skip through commercials recorded on their DVR. The deal covers ABC, ESPN, and the other Disney-owned channels.

“The agreement will result in dismissal of all pending litigation between the two companies, including disputes over PrimeTime Anytime and AutoHop,” the companies said in a joint statement. PrimeTime Anytime automatically records prime-time shows from the four major networks. That feature and AutoHop are included on Dish’s groundbreaking Hopper set-top box. Major broadcasters have sued to block AutoHop, arguing that it threatens to disrupt their core business. They also say PrimeTime Anytime violates terms of their programming deals with Dish. Dish said the deal includes rights to stream certain “linear and video-on-demand content from the ABC-owned broadcast stations, ABC Family, Disney Channel, ESPN and ESPN2, as part of an Internet delivered, IP-based multichannel offering.”

Customers will be allowed to skip commercials three days after the recorded show has been broadcast.