Dish subscribers can watch live satellite TV on their iPhones, iPads, and Android handsets at no extra cost. It appears to be a trend now with the news following announcement from Verizon and Motorola that they are working on a mobile-TV tablet. Dish Network Corp. will offer the feature on the iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch and BlackBerry devices in September and on Android handsets in October.

In the past, Dish has introduced a number of free apps for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch for customers to program their digital video recorders, browse various TV shows and even use their device as a remote control. With options for live streaming, Dish is all set to introduce an added feature to the existing features available. Although the app will be available at no extra cost to subscribers, they will need special hardware.

According to the Associated Press, Sling Media Inc.’s SlingBox, which retails for $180 to $300 is an option or they can also pay pay $200 to $400 to upgrade to Dish’s high-definition digital video recorder with SlingBox features. They need to pay $10 a month for multiple DVR service, but they’ll get recording capabilities with it. The AP report also states that viewers using Dish’s new app can switch channels remotely. However, if someone at home is watching a channel, the person using a mobile device elsewhere has to watch the same channel unless the DVR has a second tuner.

If you think subscribers will stick to streaming TV over Hulu Plus or Netflix, what about the lure of live TV to watch live sports, full-on DVR functionality and electronic programming grids? For Dish, offering the live TV feature is easy because it and Sling Media share common roots besides a top executive. In 2007, EchoStar Communications Corp. bought Sling. It was later split itself into two and Dish kept the satellite TV business, while EchoStar Corp. provides satellite TV services and set-top boxes to cable, satellite TV and phone companies across the world.