The Dish Network has launched a new Alexa skill that lets you control your DVR using nothing but your voice. Dish TV subscribers with a Hopper or Wally receiver can use the Alexa skill to change channel, search for particular shows, and pause, rewind, and fast-forward what's playing.

It seems not a week goes by without Alexa gaining a new set of skills. Unlike Liam Neeson's character from Taken, Alexa doesn't have a particular set of skills. Instead, she has a whole smorgasbord of them to choose from. Her latest trick is controlling your Dish TV receiver.

Control Dish TV With Your Voice

To save you wasting your time, in order to make use of this news you'll need a Dish TV subscription, a Hopper or Wally receiver, and an Amazon Echo device. Assuming you tick those boxes, to start controlling your Dish TV receiver using Alexa you need to do the following [Broken URL Removed]:

  • Open the Alexa app on your mobile device and navigate to the Music, TV, & Books section.
  • Find the Dish TV skill, enable it, and have your password close to hand.
  • On your Dish receiver, go to Menu, then Settings, and select Amazon Alexa.
  • Get the code, enter it into the Alexa app, and it will search for discoverable devices.
  • Select your receiver from the list, choose your Alexa device, and click Link Devices.

You can now control your Dish TV receiver using voice controls. These include, "Alexa, tune to Channel 130," "Alexa, change channel to ESPN," and "Alexa, search for Game of Thrones". You can find any channel, genre, TV show, or actor without ever having to reach for your remote control.

Dish Stops You Cutting the Cord

With more people than ever cutting the cord, it's important for cable and satellite TV providers to offer their customers reasons to stick with them. This Alexa integration is a good example of that, and while Dish may be the first to offer such functionality, we suspect it won't be the last.

Are you a Dish customer? Do you own an Amazon Echo? Will you be using this Alexa integration to control your Dish receiver with your voice? Should this become the norm? Or are you still planning on cutting the cord? Please let us know in the comments below!

Image Credit: Pop Culture Geek via Flickr