I really believe that 2024 is going to be all about adding value to the TV experience. After a year where we saw gigantic price increases in streaming, pay TV now looks like a much more economical solution. The folks at DISH agree with me, and that’s why they’ve added a curated selection of advertiser-supported channels available to subscribers with Hopper 3.
It’s called “FAST”
Free advertiser-supported television, or FAST, was another big story to emerge in 2023. You’re familiar with FAST whether you watch Pluto, Tubi, The Roku Channels, or any of the dozens of free streaming channels available on most smart TVs. FAST channels tend to be hyper-focused unlike traditional pay-TV channels. They’ll carry only one genre of show or movies, whether it’s westerns or cat videos. In some cases, you’ll have a whole channel dedicated to one show. That way if you’re in the mood for some Happy Days you know it’s always on. As the name implies, these channels have commercials, but that tends to be ok with viewers since a lot of the shows on them are intended to be seen live with commercial breaks.
FAST channels are seen as real competition for channels like HGTV, AMC, and even Fox News. Most people see those traditional pay TV channels as having strayed from their original missions and don’t always find what they want when tuning to them. With FAST channels you will generally find exactly what you’re looking for any time of the day or night.
DISH adds FAST channels
Cord Cutters News confirms that a selection of FAST channels are now available to customers with Hopper 3 systems. Like other FAST channels available on streaming systems, they’re pretty self explanatory. Here’s the list provided by Cord Cutters News:
- Bonus view Westerns
- 091-1 NOST
- 091-2 Cowboy Way
- 091-3 Lone Star
- Bonus view Classics
- 092-1 Electric Now
- 092-2 The Bob Ross Channel
- 092-3 The Film Detective
- 092-4 The Three Stooges
- 092-5 Stash TV the classics
- 092-6 ACE
- Bonus view The Movies
- 093-2 Documentary Plus
- 093-3 Horror by Alter
- 093-4 HiYAH!
- 093-5 Maverick Black Cinema
- 093-6 Scream Box TV
- 093-7 Glewed TV
Most of these will tell you right away what you’re looking for. No, I don’t know what “Glewed” means but at least it’s clear that it’s a movie channel.
These channels are available even if there is no satellite service as long as your device is connected to the internet. This makes them a good choice for those rare times when snow covers the dish, especially if you don’t have a dish heater. You don’t need the Hopper Plus addon for these channels, either. You can watch them without changing inputs on your TV and they’re available 24/7. Knowing that you can get your Bob Ross on any time of the day or night is definitely a benefit for those who come home from work feeling stressed.
Ready to add value to your home or RV satellite setup?
If you have an older DISH Hopper or even a non-DVR receiver, you can upgrade to the latest Hopper technology by calling Signal Connect. You can even add a Hopper to your RV. Obviously you’d need the right tech to make sure the signal was available when you wanted to record, but we’ll help you there too!
For the best DISH upgrade experience, call the experts at Signal Connect. We have over two decades of experience upgrading satellite television systems. We’re here to help you get the entertainment experience you’ve been dreaming of. Call 888-233-7563 during East Coast business hours or, if it’s after hours, fill out the form below.
