Satellite pay-TV provider DISH Network on Thursday unveiled ahigh-def digital video recorder that incorporates Sling Media’s technology that allows people to access programs available on their home TVs from PCs or cell phones.

To date the technology popularly called “place-shifting” required a separate Sling Media device called a Slingbox, and one of the major complaints about the Slingbox is that it is difficult to install.

The device, called the ViP 922, built by EchoStarTechnologies, which like Sling Media is a subsidiary EchoStar, incorporates both time-shifting DVR technology and place-shifting capabilities in a single package.

It also supports High-Def programming.

“I think this is truly a game-changer -- one of the most significant innovations in the TV arena–a lot like what the iPhone has been in the mobile phone arena,” said Shahid Khan, senior partner with IBB Consulting. “It can provide very unique competitive advantages to EchoStar.”

The race for remote control of both the home DVR and homeTV content from PCs and cell phones is in full flight. TiVo and Sling Media have taken the early lead with the cable operators mostly in the planning stage.

Verizon on Thursday unveiled a service that allows FiOSTV subscribers to remotely review, add, or change recording requests and do other things like browse the TV guide from a PC or select cell phones.

TiVo made two remote DVR access announcements last year. In September 2008 the company in a joint announcement with Research In Motion said that BlackBerry users would be able to control their DVRs from their cell phones. (TiVo, RIM Extend TV Remote toBlackBerry)

In November TiVo extended those capabilities to any cellphone with data capabilities. (Forgotto Program TiVo? Phone Home!)

While TiVo, Verizon, and DISH are bunched together in terms of “anywhere, anytime” DVR access, place-shifting, the ability to watch the actual programs from a PC or cell phone, sets EchoStar and Sling Media apart.

“Very soon everybody will have remote DVR capabilities. That’sfairly easy to do. Place-shifting is not easy and Sling Media’s technology is now market-tested,” Mr. Khan said.

Place-shifting also includes a hornet’s nest of legal and financial issues related to broadcast rights, ad revenue-sharing, patents, and potential market cannibalization that have slowed the advance of cable TV operators.