Dish Network, one of the first major firms to accept bitcoin as method of payment, has announced it now also accepts bitcoin cash.

The support for a second cryptocurrency comes a full four years after the U.S.-based subscription TV provider first decided to accept bitcoin in 2014. At the time it was the world's largest firm to accept bitcoin for its services, boasting 14 million subscribers.

Dish customers can now use both cryptocurrencies to pay for monthly subscriptions and pay-per-view movies.

According to the release, customers must send the precise amount of bitcoin or bitcoin cash needed to make a one-time payment on either its website or set-top box.

"We've added bitcoin cash just as we chose to accept bitcoin to serve customers who have adopted a new way of doing business," said Dish executive vice president and COO John Swieringa in a press release.

Alongside the announcement, Dish indicated it has switched its crypto payment processor and will use services provided by BitPay, saying the move will bring a greater degree of "choice and convenience" to users.

BitPay is one of the largest cryptocurrency payment providers. It notably raised $40 million in a Series B funding round in April.

Discussing the integration with Dish, BitPay CCO Sonny Singh said:

"Cryptocurrency is an increasingly popular way for consumers to make purchases online as it reduces credit card fraud and is cheaper for the merchants."

Satellite dish image via Shutterstock

The leader in blockchain news, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups.