Dish, WeatherNation Sign Multiyear Agreement

Dish Network launched WeatherNation, a multiformat, local, regional and national TV weather news service, in a multiyear agreement, Dish said Thursday. The agreement includes a national weather information channel and an interactive app for local weather, available on Dish's Hopper and other select set-top boxes, it said. WeatherNation, Channel 215, is available to Dish customers for a six-week free preview, Dish said. Dish, Motel 6 and World Cinema, which delivers satellite TV to hotels, also completed a multiyear agreement for Dish and World Cinema to deliver high definition satellite TV service and high-speed Internet access to over 500 of Motel 6's properties, Dish said Wednesday. Motel 6 chose Dish's smartbox to deliver in-room entertainment, Dish said. Smartbox can be upgraded with new features through downloads via satellite, without requiring new equipment, it said.