Dish Sues Peloton, Others Over Streaming Tech

Dish Network and its Sling TV division sued Peloton, Lululemon, and ICON Health & Fitness.

The network provider says the fitness companies used Dish’s patented technology developed by Move Networks Inc., which “allows Internet users to stream content from across the world in real time at the highest possible quality.” Move Networks was acquired by Dish in 2010.

The patents addressed include ways to improve online video quality including fast-forwarding, rewinding, and browsing on multiple streams without interruption. Sling uses the technology in a bundle offering for live TV channels streamed over the internet for a monthly fee.

Dish said Sling TV can “replicate the streaming-while-exercising experience.” 

Sling lost 118,000 users last year and currently has around 2.5 million subscribers. It represents roughly 22% of Dish’s video subscriber base.

Dish sued Univision Communications in 2019 for some of the same patents. Dish ended up settling in that case but is looking for cash compensation this time around, along with orders to block more unauthorized use of the technology. The suits were filed in Texas and Delaware.

In a separate complaint filing to the U.S. International Trade Commission, Dish and Sling are looking to block imports including Peloton’s stationary bikes, Mirror workout panels, and NordicTrack treadmills. Lululemon bought Mirror last year for $500 million.

Dish Network recorded $4.56 billion in revenue in Q4 2020, up from $3.24 billion the year before.